The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-05
TERRIBLE .C.NE.
Witnessed by a HOrror-Stricken Crowd
in a Boston Street.

30 i'H Aslrif'ef prs~
BoroN, Oct. 5.-furber particulars
regar0in4 IRE tsrfihle leath 20 Day aud
Munro ia Boston yeslerday shrw the
u.onnsr and cause ~ the ulshuui
oast ty
.H. st tD 81 Has in .lo
oia, .lios "brlA4lnlng Or re-
sIlg.y ts q ..J.s 10 the electric lights on
CVns Css s,Ilse.
Inis is 'd5ad circuit" during the day,
or, in other words, there Is no current or
electricity codrsing through these wires
that connect with the lamps that have
been burning all night. The current is
shut oil at daybreak, and was yesterday,
but in spite OF this fact there Is always
danger In Tao wires from the fact that they
may DO crossed with other live wires. In
that case the voltage Is perhaps Just as
great as IL the current that supplies the
arc lights at night was on.
Day approached and assembled tho pole
by means OF a short ladder, as usual, and
no one paid any heed TO him as he care
fully proceeded to attach the ends OF a
leather belt To the iron work of the cross
tree of the pole.
was in this case probably the
Indirect Cause of Days Death,
for IL prevented him from leaning or even
falling from the pole as it was intended
To do, but in keeping him there it held
him against the remorsele5s current until
he was slowly roasted To death.
After all his preliminary arrangements
were complete, the unfortunate fellow
proceeded with his work. First he re-
moved the glass globe, and then, with one
hand grasping the iron rod that supports
the cap OF the light, with the other he pro-
ceeded TO remove the old carbons 1t was
then that he received the terrific shock
which soon ended his life.
The glass globe that he had been hold
ing in his lap fell TO the pavement, and
the hurrying crowd looked up in surprise
and then stood transhxed with horror.
Day had slipped from the wooden cross
bar on which he had been sitting and hung
by the strap around his body. Showers OF
blue sparks flew from his hands where
they grasped the iron of the framework
and little puffs of smoke came from the
same place, showing that the flesh was
burning. Sparks from other parts Of his
body showed constantly, and the odor Of
burning clothing as well as flesh quickly
became apparent.
The man Is not known to have uttered
a sound, but the horror-stricken onlook-
ers saw his legs and body slowly contract
and grow rigid and his face become purple
Then his muscles relaxed and he hung
limp and inanimate, with his
Hands and Flesh Still Burning.
No one In the fast multiplying crowd
| offered to render any assistance, and it is
doubtful IL any one could have done SO,
| but the condition of the hneman was at
| once telephoned from nearby store Co
| the power house at the end of Congress
street.
When detail of men from the power
house arrived, in charge of Inspector
| Munro, the second sad chapter of the
tragedy was enacted. Without a moment s
hesitation, Mr.. Munro ascended to where
Day hung limp and apparently lifeless
The people watching saw him reach and
try TO turn the switch that il was thought
was open, and the cause Of Days death.
But as he did so, his body came in contact
with that of his fellow-workman, and
with another cry of horror, the crowd saw
him shudder and pitch headlong to the
pavement below.
Munro's skull was fractured, and though
| he was taken to the Emergency hospital
with all possible speed, he died without
regaining consciousness.
The courage that the next man who
climbed that pole must have had entities
| him TO more than honorable mention, but
his name could not be leared.