The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-10
HAD NARROW ESCAPE
w. H. Russell Gets Severe
Shock From Live Wire.
PICKED UP UNCONSCIOUS
Hands Were Found Terribly
Burned and Lacerated.

". B. Russell is entitled to go on record
as the only living men who can success
fully permit $50 volts Of electricity 10
pass through his anatomy and live to tell
/ the story. But spectators say he did that
/ very thing. Yesterday morning, while
! leisureIy standing at the east end Of the
/ new ice plant building that is being erect
| ed al the corner Of Fifth avenue and Sec
! ond street, Mr. Russell undertook TO sup
port himself by taking hold Of the wire
which IS used TO support the electric light
pole. The wire had become crossed with
the electric light wires at the top OF the
pole and was heavily charged with an
electric current Of at least 80 volts. The
moment Mr.. Russell touched the wire he
gave a fierce yell of agony, and instantly
became unconscious. He was fastened 10
the wire with one hand, and the current
drew the other hand 10 the wire and was
burning his flesh feaEfuIly. r. D. VAN
ack, who works on the building was the
first one to the man, and taking hold Of
his shoulders and giving him quick
n
but not without leaving part Of the flesh
Of the victims hands sticking TO the wire.
Russell was unconscious. The smoke OF
burned flesh was issuing from the soles Of
his shoes and from his clothing, and the
peculiar odor of burned flesh attending
the electrocuuon made a sickening scene.
Everybody thought the young man was
dead. He was laid out by the building,
but with little relief work evidence OF
life was soon noticed, and it was but a lit
tie while until the young man was able TO
sit up. He was taken 10 his boarding
place, where he was visited by reporter
for the Eagle. His hands were badly lac
Grated and burned. In one hand was q
furrow Of burned flesh large enough to
lay a lead pencil in, and the other hand
was mass of burns and blisters.
Tell US your experience" said the re-
porter.
well, I am really glad that am able
to talk about it, although I am not yet
over the shock. had gone up to the ice
plant 20 see about getting work and was
waiting for the boss. The ground was
rough where I was standing, and starting
70 slip, I grabbed the wire In flash I
was knocked to the ground and rendered
unconscious. 1 never knew anything
until I found myself surrounded by the
men who had taken me from the wire
Il was quite while before I was able 70
walk. No one seemed TO know that the
wire was charged, and I suppose It is
lucky that 1 was the victim, now that 1
am not dead, for some one would have
been killed there"
r. D. Wamack, who took Russell from
the wire. says he never was more sur
prised than when Russell began to regain
consciousness. He was as dead as a door
nail when I took him away" declared Mr.. /
Wamack, "and the smoke was coming
from his shoes, accompanied by s!clxlv
smell that would leave no doubt of death I
in an ordinary case. The man must be 7
proof against electricity"
David L. Hite. who Is experimenting /
the construction Of the building. said it [
was most miraculous escape from death. /
and he cannot understand how q person /
could Withstand such a shock. Just to
try the strength Of the current after the
accident said Mr.. Hite, Il wet the tip
Of my finger and quickly touched the wire
I got a shock that I VIII not soon forget.
and was nearly fastened TO the current
in spite Of myself. I did not monkey
around the wire after that"
II. J. Demuth. engineer who Is placing
the big boilers and mechanical apparatus
Of the ice plant. said ne never heard OF
such an accident before. The severity Of
the shock unattended by fatal results
seemed 70 him almost incredible had ne
not witnessed it with his own eyes.
The electrician OF the Wichita Light
and Power company says that ordinarily
80 volts viii kill a person. and that 100
volts would be fatal in most any manner
used He saws the electric arc light wires
carry ?, 80 volts, and the wire which Mr..
Russell got hold Of was crossed with one
y two Of these wires. but might not have
got all OF the current He could not ac-
count for the fact that Russell was not
killed, unless he had a natural power OF
70 electricity. This has been
Known to exist in certain persons.
After the accident yesterday the electric
sight people were notified and immediate
V rearranged the guy wire 81 as not :,
'ome IN contact with the electric light
wires.
Mr.. Russell VIII not Be able 20 resume
work Of any kind for several weeks on
account Of the condition OF his hands and
he effects OF the shock TO his nervous
ysten.