The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-09-17
AN ELECTRIFIED FENCE.
1t EEectual!y Kept tne lIoJs From steal
ing the Gentieinln's Fears.

1t EnectuaEy Kept TIE noys From steal
in, the Gentienan's Fears.
A gentleman who lives almost unlcr
tho shadow of old Harvard's walls. at
(ambridge has for several years en-
ployed his leisure 'Iab5ling in cleo
tricity" as he expressed it. In h
home all the doors drawers and win
dows open and shut by this mysterious
force. Mrs. c.. the gentleman 5 vile.
declares that she hesitatss to touch
anything even to touch a hair brush
IN his private room. for fear it may
be somehow connected with a hidden
wire. One OF his inventions is unique
and has been the means Of atfording
him and his friends no little amuse-
mcnt.
In his back yard are several Gnc cd
pear trees VIII Oh have sometimes led
certain Toys in the neighborhood to
overlook the distinction between
mcum and tuum. Runnng along the
rear of the fruit garden is board
fcrcc 100 feet long perhaps over
viii h the rogui7h lads were wont to
climb when they wanted pears and
wh.cl likewise too frequently formed
the stage for concert living eats
On the top OF this fence Mr. c.
tackled strips OF zinc which were con-
nectnd with the electric wires leading
to the house. Ey pressing Il button a
more or less strong charge OF electric
ity could lie sent through this zinc.
odd sections Of which We're united to
the earth Y means of wircs.
| nsuspccting cats would run along
the fence. and tho moment their fore
foot tnn"l,nsl 80 i.>.,,l l.d
aSiOnlehed feline rose from one to
three feet into the ar. sometimes TO
turn complete sOmcrsault and then
to descend with all four feet out
stretched rs il to fly. If the unlucky
cat in falling CHANGED to hit the zinc
again. the performance was apt to be
repeated with variations. The instant
puss touched solid earth she would
utter one shrill meow Of terror and
dart away.
One Afternoon during last fall
Mr.. {. was sitting in his room when,
CHANGING to look from the window. he
spied boy iE the act OF climbing
the fence his hands resting on the
z nc. Mr.. G.. Immediate Y recognized
him as one OF the purloiners of his
pears He put his finger on the
electr C button and the next moment
startled boz umped backward and
tried to let 90 his hold on the fence
But electricity had set its grip upon
his ha ds and he WAS as powcrie to
get away as he would be to throw
down Is .nker Hill monument with Il
puff OF his breath.
He kicked he pulled ia .kwards
be struggled this way and that. and
finally in despair he shouted Justify
for help.
Mr. c. watched the lad FOR time.
aud then: tn mixing he had punished
him su iiclently removed his finger
from tle buttoa and released HIM from
electrical DURANGO. The boy, mean
time. had caught a glim 'se of Mr.
{. 5 smiling face at the window. and
Immediately connected him with his
own pccul.a sensations lie gave
vent TO his feelings thereto G in an
an-;y threat that he ana the bows
w hti.u ttdt inc OtU renee down and
ran Off
few minutes later half a dozen
ed-looking urchins led By the
electrified boy Of Il few minutes be-
fore. were seen approach ng the fence
as Ii with j determination to tear it
down.
Mr.. G. finger sought the electric
button Oae OF the ragmuIins put
his hands on the fence and that in
slant uttered a shrek Of pain and
terror Electricity bad caught him
His comrades stopped just long
enough to see that the boy vas held
fast, and took TO their heels aud de-
serted in toIy. Mr.. c. gave the
frightened lad a few words of advice.
and then suffered HIM TO depart SAYS
the Youths Compaa on. Net pear
was disturbed after that nor has he
since known of a boys attempting to
climb that electrical fence.