The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-12
BLOCK is BENITCnED
STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF A sTAID
SOUTH ROBERT STREET
BUSINESS BLOCK
PLAYED FRANKS ON PEOPLE
Finally Flames Burst From the Meat
Market on the Ground Floor Of
the Building, and When the Fire
Department Arrived 1t Was Dis
covered That the Structure Was
Charged With Electricity.


Occupants Of the two-story brick block
at 424-42S South Robert street thought
the building bewitched yesterday after
noon, when for an hour or more peculiar
conditions existed throughout the struc-
ture and prevailed within limited area
outside. Before the mystery was solved
several families in the block had fed
precipitately to the street. and while the
spell was on, S. G. Road, living on Con-
cord street, near Robert, was knocked
down by some unseen power while pass
ing the building. Then the police were
notified and half a dozen patrolmen were
stationed about the building to keep peo-
pie away from 1t. By this time resi-
dents of the vicinity had learned Of what
was Transporting and large. crowd gath
cred awe-stricken about the building.
No one seemed to know what was the
trouble Several curiously inclined indi-
viduals approached close to the walls of
the building only to jump quickly away
rubbing hand or leg, whichever had
come IN closest contact to the brick
walls. They explained that they had ex-
perienced a severe shock. like hundreds
of needles piercing their flesh Out in
front of the building an incautious
ycungster stepped on the sidewalk and
was thrown head over heels into the
gutter. When the street cars went by
there was fierce suffering under the
wheels and a brilliant electrical display.
Occasionally several bricks close to each
other on the south wall would appear 20
momentarily assume a phosphorescent
glow, while again tiny blue sparks would
dart from the walls like lightning bugs.
While the crowd watched the develop
ments shout from the front of the
building centered attraction here. From
under one of the show windows of C..
L. Pigotts butcher shop, smoke was
curling upward. while running back and
forth along the wood work flashed
vivid. green snake-like fame. Owing to
the experience of those who had too
closely approached the building no one
yentured to Investigate the peculiar cir
cumstance, but some one turned in a
fire alarm and In q few minutes the west
side department was on hand. A stream
from the chemical was directed at the
blaze under the window, but apparently
without effect The green fire continued
to sputter Then one of the fremer,
with big rubber boots on, walked close
to the window. The power that had
seized upon everyone else approaching
the building had no effect on him. After
a close examination the fireman diss1.
pated the mystery.
Electric wires" he explained, and as
he spoke the green flame went out leav-
ing the woodwork blazing slightly. The
fire was extinguished now without dif-
nnnGidarahiQ
had been done, when 1t was learned that
3. r. Swearinger, who lives over the
meat market, had discovered the cause
Of the trouble and cut the wire that con
veyed the electricity to the building.
When the presence of electricity first
manifested itself In Mr. Swearinger
apartments 1t was thought this part OF
the building was the only portion al
fected. Investigation, however, shoWeo
that the structure was charged through
out with the powerful fluid. In testlrg
the matter persons in different rooms ap-
nroached the walls and experienced
strong electric shocks, though none went
near enough or remained in the affected
radius long enough to suffer INJURY.
Pieces of paper about the rooms Weie
drawn to the wallis, and light aructes
IL rown against the ceiling renamed as
though glued. Outside of the buiioing
the electricity charged the sldewalh ana
extended into the street. Mr.. Road pass
I'd tha block when the trouble was frst
discovered and as he stepped in front
of the butcher shop window he was suo,
denly thrown down. AS he scrambled
off of the walk he felt prickiing sensa-
tion all over his body, but after pichi''S
himself I'D seemed to have sustained TO
serious injury He was able to proceed
to his home.
The building became charged. 1t is be-
lteved, through large wire that FORMER
" operated arc lights in the stores
This wire has not lately oeen III USE u.
noe NOT taken down When this wire
was cut by Mr. swearinger the electric
dty seemed to pass out OF the building.
Roth the telephone company and the
electric light company were rotined Oh
what had happened and requested@,o e1-
anime their wires running into the ouliu-
inc 81 that the disturbing conditions
ro1cht not again occur.