The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-04-04

mine times out OF ten, however" ne
continued "the results will be more
ludicrous than serious, as in the Brook.
lyn case, where the six men directing
the stream were shocked by current
communicated from the exposed third
rail through the steady stream OF wa
ter. There no harm was done beyond
startling the men into dropping the
hose. which, when released, writhed
about like giant snake, drenched
every one within range, and smashed a
few windows. That was, OF course, not
pleasant for the dripping people nor
the owners OF the windows, but there
was absolutely no danger to the lives
of the firemen. The current in the third
rail was only one of $50 volts, which,
dissipated as it was by being so con-
ducted, could give only severe tingle.
'Oh yes, II is perfectly true that a
stream Of water will act as a conductor
in such cases. But it is very imper-
feet one. In the first place pure wa
ter is in itself a poor conductor It's
efficiency as a conductor varies direct
ly with the solid impurities in it. Then,
though the stream forms an unbrol1en
circuit from the rail to the metal nozzle
held by the men, and through them TO
the earth, the spraying and large sur
face area of the stream dissipates the
current greatly. In the third place, a
short circuits almost sure to be formed
by the stream from the third rail to the
track rails as the water spreads. This
In itself would divert the current so
that very little would be felt by the hui
man beings who form a link in the
longer circuit.
"The experience of the Brooklyn fire !
men might be duplicated wherever the |
stream falls upon a non-insulated wire I
conveying current of any considera-
BILE voltage. 1t is possible in the case
Of trolley wires, and, l believe, also in
the case of the main cables which carry
the current for lightning purposes in
a large Office building But, as l said
before, there is no danger to life. 1t is
only disagreeable thing which the
fremen may have to contend with.
There may be case, but this is scarcely
more than hypothetical, where there is
a real danger to life in a current con-
Quoted by stream of water. 1t is only
about two weeks ago that we had an
example of such q case here in Manhat-
tan. That was the fire in the testing
department of the Edison Illuminating
building in West Twenty
sixth street. If the firemen had not
been warned to withhold the stream un-
til the current had been turned off from
he large motors, 1t might have been
tragedy instead of comedy, like the
Brooklyn fire. Perhaps ought to mod
crate my remark as to danger being
merely Hypothetical. But, after all, 1t
,ould only be through ignorance, on
which we need not reckon, that there
would be real danger. When the pres
'nce OF such great electric currents is
1nown, it is simple matter to turn
hem off before playing streams on the
Ire. In all buildings containing large
motors or dynamos, the current, by
means Of switching boards, can be !
urned off at various distant parts of
he building. 1t would surely be
ypothetical case where one Of these
could not be got at in case
I fire.
Moreover, if you stop to think about
II the fireman would add rubber !,
loves to his present gutta percha out
t he would be practically insulated,
18th rubber coat hip boots and gloves.
n electric current might pass along t
be dampness OF his garments, reach I
ae ground, and thus complete cir I
lit. tit would not be felt by the man r
mself unless he got soaked through.
ven then the current transmitted by I,
moisture would be too
light to take seriously. If the intelli-
ance used by the fire-fghters in meet
g other difficulties is also exercised in
lis matter they need not fear electric III
y."-N. Y. Times. II