The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-30
ROASTED ON A ROOF.
Nicholas Ennis's Clothes Set on
Fire by an Electric Wire.
Mortified Crowd Looked heIplessly
On from the Street.
Finally Rescued by DIR. Hugh Kid
der, of the Ophthalmic Hospital.

| Michael Ennis. a tin roofer. Of 200 Eas,
Fifty-hfth street, narrowly escaped being
shocked and burned to death by con.
tact with live electric light wire this
morning.
Ennis was repairing the roof over the
private entrance TO the New York Oph.
thalmic Hospital. at Twenty-third stree,
and Third avenue, when suddenly tn.
crowd of curious on-lookers saw his
body stiffen out after q convulsive shud-
der. Smoke issued from his clothing al
almost the same instant.
The widest excitement was caused
and a crowd OF at least one thousand
quickly gathered and ran aimlessly
about, shouting, gestiCulating. but max.
ing no effort TO rescue the man whose
life was being rapidly Slapped by the
deadly current.
Dr. Hugh kdder. who Is connected
with the hospital. threw UP the window
directly over the cornice roof to ascer-
tain the cause for all the excitement.
lie had scarcely got his head out before
his eyes. following the curling lines OF
smoke ascending from below. saw the
body of Ennis, whose shirt was fairly
abIa2e, ana the flesh on his chest and
left arms was beginning to sizzie.
The doctor drew back from the win
dow as II to call for some one to assist
him In dragging the unconscious man
IRON the network OF wires.
crowd below, divining the doctors pur-
pose. rushed up the steps. three at a
time. lie is strapping young fellow,
and in his excitement seemed to be pos
sessed of giant strength.
Kelly leaned out OF the window and
touched the rigid PROSTATE body of En-
mis-. lie jerked his hand away with the
rapidity of one who had unconsciously
touched with his hnger tips a red-hol
iron.
Then Dr. Kidder reached down and
took firm hulu of Ennis's collar.
Is ELY also took hold, and together they
dragged the nearly dead man through
the window.
While this scene was being enacted
some one had turned in fire alarm,
over. save the telling and retelling OF
the story to new arrivals by those who
had witnessed II.
One Of the spectators told an Even
Ing World" reporter that Ennis was
first shocked to d.ath and then almost
cremated. and that DIR. Kidder and Kelly
were so badly shocked by touching
Ennis's flesh that they were nearly rem
dered unconscious.
Both Kelly and DR. Kidder felt slight
shocks but they suffered no Ill effects
The ambulance surgeon from Bellevue
who attended Ennis stated before taking
him to the hospital that he thought he
might recover.
At one end of the little roof there is a
switch and network of wires. The
current was turned on and one OF them
had been stripped of its insulation. En-
MIS- In leaning over touched his throat
to this wire ana was Instantly rendered
helpless. 1t Is believed thai he must
have received a shock OF 800 or GOO volts,
as he stiffened ont instantly. and would
| have fallen to the sidewalk. but for ~
/ projs citing sign which saved him from
slipping on. He IL ifty-tive years old.
! His left arm, throat and breast were
! badly burned. and his shirt was nearly
destroyed.
| The lineman who was sent to in
| spect the wires nfter the accident, re
fused TO make any statement.