The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-27
THE rR1BUNE-FR1DAY MoRNrse. 81. 1895
BLINDED BY ELECTRICITY
Peculiar Accident to Philadelphia
Traction Employees.
MADE SIGHTLESS 81 SPARKS
Whiio Replacing q Deraiied Snow Piow
on tho Tracks. They Make
Circuit with q Switch Bar
and Are Injured.

Philadelphia, March 26.-During the
snowstorm of Monday two employees or
the Holmesburg, Tacony and Frank
ford trolley railway were blinded by
flashes of electricity, and until yes
terday, when there were signs or re-
turning sight. it was feared that they
had forever lost the use of their eyes.
The men are william G. Boteler and
David McBeth. both of whom make
their homes at the boarding house OF
Mrs. Deaking, No. 371S Longshore
street, TacOny, where, in a darkened
room. they are now receiving medical
treatment.
The accident was unique in many re-
spects ana Is the first of its kind that
has been known to happen since the
introduction of the trolley system. The
two men We're working ON the electric
snow plow. which had jumped the track
and were helping to get 1t back on the
rails TO do this they used the iron
switch bar to make n ground connec-
ton between the rails and the wheels
o. the derailed plow. The method en-
lloyed was to hook one end of the
bar to the rear truck Of the plow and
place the other end ON the nearest rail,
then forming circuit with sutfi-
Ciently strong current to move the big
car backward, when the motor was
turned on.
BY repeated adjustments Of the switch
iron in this manner the big car was
gradually moved back to the rails, but
each effort produced u shower Of bril-
liant electric sparks. On their hands
the men wore heavily padded gloves,
but did not seem to realize the danger
to their eyes as with each movement of
theb ar they stopped over and THEN
faces were always dangerously close to
the electric sparks. which We're brilliant
enough to dazzle them. AS II was dark.
however. reither of them suffered from
their experience until they had turned
In the plow at the barns on Slater cad,
IN the receivers office, which was bril-
iiantly light. both complained Of in
tense pain IN their eyes.
MADE SIGHTLESS.
a few minutes after entering the Of
flee McBeth was sightless and suffered
excruciating agony. Those In the room
crowded around the suffering man with
offers of assistance. but had scarcely
reached him when Boteler shrleked:
My God! ! am blind, too" Neither
of the men could even distinguish the
bright incandescent lights around them.
a car was quickly run out and in it
boarding house. Dr. David Buinstead
was called in and applied soothing To-
tions and blindfolded the suffering men.
All day Tuesday they were totally
blind, but yesterday the intense pain
subsided and last evening faint glim-
mer of sight returned to both. With
the aid of smoked glasses they We're
able to grope their way around the
darkened rooms. but were unable to see
even in dim light.
DR.. Umstead declared that he never
before heard of such cases. but he
thinks that with careful treatment the
men will in time recover the use of their
eyes. Superintendent HOlcomb. of the
trolley company. who Is an experienced
electrician, could not recall any similar
cases, and said last evening that he
intended to make report to some of
the electrical magazines in order that
scientists may investigate this curious
freak of electricity.