The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-06-14
INDIANS NARROW ESCAPE.
Adventure In electrical Power-House
That Should Have Killed Him.

happening which lis claimed by local
electrical experts to have been the most re-
markable circumstance in the history of
electric lighting, occurred Saturday night at
the power substation OF the Montana Power
Transmission company. at the foot of Mon
tana street. It was a human being short
cfrcuiting an electric current Of 1000 horse
power, or $4,000 volts, and escaping without
so much as as light burn. The circuit was
that which the Montana Transmission COM
pany manufactures at the big water.power
plant on tho Big Hole river. The current is
brought to Butte, distance Of 20 miles, at
a pressure Of $1,000 volts. and at the sub
station. at the foot OF Montana street, Is
reduced for consumption in the city. The
wires carrying this tremendous voltage enter
the building at the substation and are carried
to switchboard which stands q few feet
from one Of the walls, and is by mechan-
ism Of this switchboard diverted to the step
down Transformers. which do the business of
reducing the pressure. se. 4
Here Is where the great American Indian
makes his entrance into this very unusual
tale, which is the story of how one lone red
ness OF corporattons,w worth moro than a
million dollars. South of the city Is the
camp of a band of Cree Indians, and in trav-
cling to and from the city during the In
1ians have to pass the power substation.
One of the tribe had been in the city during
IuC UJy, 0uU u0U ul1cU up Ou uIC WAlcT I'LL
his natural means of. 4ocomotiOn was con-
siderably impaired, and the consequence
was that when he reached the light station
he concluded to take a rest. The night was
rainy and cold. and he looked about for
shelter. The station is always kept locked
crawled inside. What he next did is force
full exemplihcation.. Of the saying. Fools
walk boldly in where Angels fear to tread .
The electricians employed at the station
would no more think zof even stepping be-
hind the big switchboafd than they would Of
seizing hold OF the wires themselves. for to
the ordinary white man 1t would mean al
most certain death. But Lo was not up in
the greatest of modern sciences. and the
place therefore had no terrOrs for him. It
was warm behind the switchboard, and that
was just the place be was looking for. He
walked or staggered in and leaned his back
against the wires, which carried enough
electricity to kill a regiment Of soldiers at
one time Ts
There was a great fash. which for a Sec
ond lighted up the station brighter than
calcium. Then the machinery slowed down
almost to a standstill. and the lights all
over the city went out The men at the
switchboard, and went to look. All they
found was a grimy redskin lying quivering
on the floor. They could see he was not
dead, however, and they hauled him out and
examined him. There was not the slightest
evidence about him that he had come in con-
tact with the current except that his hair
was singed.
Looking further. the men discovered the
mystery Of what had happened. The Indian
had worn his hair in Z long braid. hanging
down the back. Whiles out IN the weather
the braid had become seaked with rain. and
when he went In and blamed up against the
wires the braid touchedbne Of the wires 1ust
at the back OF his heads and dangling. came
in contact with another Just below it. This
caused short circuit and slowed down the
plant. and the Indian never so much as got
q shock. but his braid ssas cut OH as smooth
as it would have been adone with a pair OF
shears. Hv
II the Indian was not up to date In one
respect, he quite evidently is in another, az
1t is stated that henhas notified the COM
pany OF his intention 81 bringing suit for
damages for the loss so6 his braid.-Anacon-
da MONTY Standard.gsw