The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-11
San francisco. sept 10, 1891
SHOCKED TO A LIFELESS MASS.
His Hand Touched Tiny Button and
EiectricitY Did the Rest.

His Hand Touched a Tiny Button and
Electricity Did the Rest.
The eruption of Yesuvius assumed a re-
aiity last night that was not intended by the
management.
While the great audience in the anphi-
theater was In ecstasies OF enthusiasm over
the magnificent display. tragic scene was
taking place in the rear of the stage.
Professor Samuel Wiley, the chief pyro-
technist and electrician, was stationed at
his switchboard, back where the mechani-
cal part OF the Pompeiian show is located.
Around him were scores of assistants en-
gagged in operating the fireworks and attend
ing 10 the other hundreds of details that are
necessary for the portrayal Of the fall of the
doomed capital. Suddenly, not q minute
after the mountain Nesuvius had burst forth
in blaze of vari-cOlOred light, the professor
reeled and fell as if dead to the floor. When
picked up life seemed to be extinct. The
hundreds of attendants and performers,
many of whom were passing TO and from
the stage in front, were almost panic-Stricken
by the accident, the effect OF which was
heightened by the awlulness of the erup-
ton, as 1t was being presented to the thou
sands of spectators across the lake.
10 understand the nature OF the accident
it must be explained that the destruction of
PomDeii, which is represented SO smoothly
to the public, is a matter OF thousand de-
tdlIS, anu lDb ltSull VI d pCl lCCI WI hlliH Ol
a very complicated system of machinery
and electric Tres. There Were wires to the
mountain, to the houses, to the temples, to
the aTehway, to all parts Of the stage and
scenery, in fact. All of these slender con-
ductors converge to large plain table-the
switchboard, where number OF men skilled
IN their peculiar work engineer the work
iugs of the electric power under the super
vision of Professor Wiley. The later usu-
ally attends to the activity of Vesuyius with
his own hand. The signal is given and
the professor presses button which con-
meets with the fatal crater instantly thou
sands of rockets, bombs and fireworks of
other description burst from the mountain,
and, increasing, envelop 1t III flames. Mean
time the. attendants are not Idle. The cleo
trio buttons with which the switch board is
lined is pressed one after another, and in
coincidence the houses crumble to their
ruin, columns totter and fall, temples go
down with terrific noise and all the terrible
details of the catastrophe 50 terrible to those
in front are presented.
Last night Professor Wiley stood at the
long table patiently awaiting the signal for
the display of Ve>uyius' might. II came, and
the electricians fingers fell quickly on the
tiny button. Then without even au ex-
clamation Of pain the professor sank to the
floor.
Attendants rushed up and Manager Skill
was called. He gave the lifeess nan stimu-
lants and sent a score of men in search
of physicians, but none could be found.
The hospital ambulance was then sent
for, but before its arrival the injured
man had revivedand was able TO move
his limbs. Soon after he was able to
walk and was sent to his home. Meantime
the sublime spectacle was over and the au-
dirnce had gone entirely unaware of the
tragic event in the rear of the dressing
rooms. The cause of the accident was
clearly explained last night by viii S.
Heck, the press agent for Pompeii
1.-The Professor and his men have charge
of all the complicated system Of wires that
are concerned in the eruption" said Mr..
Heck In front of the stage are a large
number of arc lights, which are connected
with another system of wires. In some
manner the arc light wires got crossed with
those of the other system, and as a result
Mr.. Wiley sustained a severe shock. lie is
all right now, though"
"Were the performers or others in dan
ger?'
"Oh, no. No one is in danger in such ac-
cidents except the men at the switching
board. Every care is taken, of course, but
accidents will happen. Professor Wiley
was shocked at the spectacle in Boston and
thrown fifteen feet
The audience that viewed the spectacle
last night was even larger than that of the
FIRST night, and tue spectators were glowing
in enthusiastic praise. - Cincinnati En-
ouirpT