Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-25
THE TRoLLEy's DEADLY WORK.
A Shocking Tragedy I'm East Hartford-A
Man and q Horpe Killed.


The trolley has manifested lie deadly charac-
ter in East Hartford. The night q June IA
Judge stoughton Of East Hartford WIS given a
very uncomfortable electric shock by tele-
phone wire that had broken and fallen across q
trolley wire. An hour later. very near Judge
stoughton's house, James Barber. linemsn,
lay in a death struggle on the side OF the road,
almost AZ the Burnside avenue corner. the fatal
little wire burning his life away. horse at
the same time lay dead few rods to The north
and another was helpless by the roadside.
It appears that the same wire was responsible
both FOR the shock experienced by Judge
Stoughton and for the death Of the lineman aud
horse. the mishnp which preceded the
tragedy had occurred in well Travelled cits street
thu result might have been even more terrible.
A branch fell from big elm against n telephone
wire and trolley wire. The little telephone wire
snapped beneath the weight and the ends falling
over the trolley wire Law along the highway.
The trolley road at this point is in not use. the
cars being still drawn by horses. A horse car
came by and the driver unhitohed his horses to
lead them past the point where the wire
threatening DANCE. When he thought he
on safe ground again he drove back on the
track. but IL seems that one Of the horses
touched the selei hone wire. which Ind been
charged by its contact with the trolley. There
was a fash and down went both the horses in .
twinkling.
On the legs and breast Of one glowed and
sizzled the little wire. He rolled and kicked
but became more entangied in il. The more he
struggled the more the wire burned into him
The driver had taken par. Of the shock. enough
to knock him out" The conductor saw that
the nigh horse was not touched BY the wire and
ne started to cut the straps 70 save him. lie
staggered back and then had TO lie ON the grass
for half an hour before he was strong enough TO
in few minutes. James Barber, lineman
who was 90 his wny home, heard q the trouble
and went with Selectman Roberts to try TO
remedy it. For some inexplicable reason tho
work Of clearing away the wires WAS attempted
before the power was shut off. Barber aud
Roberts went at the wires, the former with per-
feet fearlessness. He took a rope, caught tbs
south end OF the wire and drew il TO one side.
Then he started for the other end
II was dark.
Barber kept working on.
Il believe it's dead, anyway" said Barber.
81 know better. You keep away from it,"
called his cooler companion
But Barber kept on. He reached out his
hand. As il by fate his right hand struck she
wire squarely.
.'for Gods sake. save mc.' he cried. and feIl
to the ground within few inches Of Roberts.
He tried to shake il of, but the deadly wire
held him. Roberts took his umbrella in both
nand6 ana Struck az The wlfe 10 staNe n on from
Barber. but the striker went staggering back,
badly shocked, and the wire clung 10 Barber. IL
had eaten almost through hls thumb and Law
across his face.
Roberts said il seemed fifteen minutes that
the man lay there struggling, the wire burning
out his life. Nothing WIS at hand 20 saye him.
In the meantime attempt had been made
to send word TO the electric light company from
Lowrys drug store, but the wire WIS useless.
Then William Is. Noble. the druggist, tried his
instrument and got o shock that made him feel
decidedly queer the rest Of the night.
Then some one autographed the Hartford Elec-
trio Light Co. from the New England Offices,
with no response. Immediately after BARRIERS
death First Selectman Roberts rushed to The
New England Offices and sent another telegram
and received THIS amazing reply: They had or
ders to run the power TO q certain hour aud
they should obey them. Mr.. Roberts then sent
q dispatch TO President Goodrich. In the
meanwhile the presidents son, James Good
rich, had heard of the trouble and he went at
once to the works and had the power shut or.
When Barriers body was examined il wns
found that his right hand was burned, the wire
cutting clear TO the bone in the palm, and his
left hand was cut and burned His face was
cut from his chin in n direct line up over the
tip of bis noee and chin. Lips and nose we're
badly burned and cut where the wire had struck
his face and cut in Barber had Just entered
the employ Of the company lineman. Presi-
dent Goodrich remarked when be was told Of
the mans death that he never knew before tbst
the current would kill