Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-28
Swung IN The AIR
lineman's Narrow Escape
from Death
NEARLY ELECTRoCuTED.
Harry burnett Il. celvcs Terrific shock
While Stringing Telephone Wires
and Was Thought he
N he lead.

J. e. Burnett, a lineman in the en-
ploy OF the Southern Bell Telephone
company, had Il narrow escape from
being electrocuted While at work yes
terday morning strlnging wires on
Twenty-eigilth street
For while it was thought by those
who saw Burnett swinging in the net
work Of wires that he was dead The
sp I,.,. caused pedestrians to CULVER
with horror. Burnett was sitting on
one of the cross-arms on a large tele-
phone poll at the corner of LAFAYETTE
avenue and Twenty eighth street with
ms hands cienching the small wires
There were no signs of life, and II
looked as if he would fall to The pave
ment below, Il distance of forty feet
ana be crushed into a pulp.
negligence was the cause of the acct
dent that nearly resulted in death
MI; Burnett had climbed the poll to
make last a Wire he was stringing A
negro laborer was on the ground help
ing him. The colored man was stand
ing near the fire department building
holding a coil of wire. MIR. Burnett had
hold of one end of it making it fast tn
q glass lnsulator. He cautioned the
negro not to let the wire touch the troll
ley cable.
While fastening the wire Mr. Birnett
called for slack and the negro gave
100 much, allowing the Wire to fall
across the trolley cable. In fifty the
lineman was insensible. He was seen
10 reel IN the net work of wires and If
looked as If he could not let go Of the
WIRE. which was then charged with the
current from the power plant of the
newport News. Hampton and Old Point
Electric Railway Company In falling
IN the network Mr.. Burnett forced
some Vt the telephone wires against a
i've cable wire from the plant of the
Peninsular Electric Light Company.
and he would have received a double
shock had not the current burned the
Wire in two that crossed the trolley ca
bic.
Among those who saw the horrifying
spectacle were Mayor Allan A Moss,
Chlef Engineer w. X. Stow, and MIR, C.
A. Barsamin. They rushed to Burnett's
assistance telephone message was
sent to the local electric light plant
TO cut off the current, which was
done. 5-%.
The perplexing question that next
arose was how to get the man to the
ground. Every one who saw him then
Tbeifeved he had been Killed. The hook
ana ladder wagon was run out of the
hre department building. Then rope
was quickly procured. Chief Stow
placed a ladder against the pole, while
another lineman climbed up to where
Mr.. Burnett lay. The lineman was
afraid to put his hands on his fellow
workman, as he thought the wires were
still alive. Mayor Moss commended
surfing him that the current had been
cut off. A rope was then placed around
Burnett's chest and he was carried
down the ladder by Chief Stow Be
fore he reached the ground Burnett
showed signs of life, and he soon re-
vived, but appeared to be dazed. Later
he became Eighty and began to ask
silly questions.
Burnett was found to be horribly
burned about the hands, face and body,
IN fact. wherever a Wire came in con-
tact with his person. DR.. 3. r. Gary
was quickly summoned. He dressed
the mans wounds, among which was a
deep burn, running around Burnett's
neck. Later in the day Burnett re-
gained his senses, but it will be sever
al weeks before he will recover from
the effects of the shock
Had not the small Wire that fell on
the trolley melted in two Burnett would
nave been electrocuted While the wire
lay across the cable myriads of sparks
flashed from the other wires He was
astride the cross-arm with his feet
crossed. and but for this position he
would have been knocked off the pole
by the shock. He did fall, but his body
caught in the net work of TELEPHONY
wires and hence his life was miracu.
lOusly saved.
1t takes Il lot to kill an Irishnan.r
said MIR. Burnett when he was seen last
night.