Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-08
SHOCKING VISITORS,
The Electrical Men Have Rare Fun
With the Curious Crowd.

The Electrical Men Have Rare Fun
With the Curious Crowd.
From the Chicago Tribune.
Engineers and electricians In charge Of the
electrical exhibits have been entertaining
themselves and furnishing amusement to
spectators in the electricity building Of late
by charging the ratings around their dis
plays with electricity and shocking those
who come in contact with them. Almost
every day there is a circus going on in
some part of the building. around which
crowds gather to watch the guileless per-
formers.
In one exhibit the brass railing has been
connected by wire with a small dynamo in
the exhibit and the attendant in charge,
under pretence Of settling the dust in front
of his display, sprinkles the floor SO literally
that the boards are always wet Passers-by
are attracted to the display by the silent
revolving motors and step up to the railing
to examine more closely or perhaps touch
the machines at the peril of losing a finger
When two or more have completed the cir
cunt by grasping the brass rail and standing
on the wet boards the attendant turns on
tne current. Then follow screams and yells.
writings and all manner of contortions
The victims are unable to let go of the rail-
and either sink to the floor or try to climb
over the barrier. Some are seized with ter
III dAu AIHdSlue tney are suddenly par
alyzed Others do not seem to be able to
account for the sudden weakness in their
knees, and as they kneel before the display
their hands on the bar, they gaze about
with surprised look, which is one OF the
chief features of the show. The current Is
of less than 100 volts and Is not sufficiently
strong to do any injury, though those who
feel 1t think at the time their last hour Is
at hand.
Yesterday there were three persons at the
rail when the whitening fluid passed along
an old lady and her daughter and a young
countryman whose hands betokened famili-
arfty with the pillow in a sunny field. When
the old lady felt the influence her facial
muscles became drawn and her form grew
rigid, but she did not utter a sound The
girl bobbed up and down and cried. 20 ma,
until the current was turned off. The coun-
try swain was affected quite differently He
started like young unbroken colt and an
expression came into his face similar to that
OF person under mesmeric influence He
gave sudden wrench at the bar, but per-
ceived he had no strength, though ordinari-
ly he could have tied the brass railing into
knot. He hung on the bar and was about
to climb over between his hands Just as the
current was turned off. He fell on the floor
and, seeing himself free, gathered himself
up and darted out Of the building, knocking
people to right and left as he went
In another exhibit an engineer has ar
ranged copper wire brush to take the
frictional electricity from a rapidly revoly-
ing belt and connected Ii with the railing
Those who wish to take close look at the
motors and touch the rail experience a SEN
sation very much like that of picking up a
handful of cookie burs or a cactus Sparks
OF electricity fly at every contact, but no