The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-14
HOW IT HAPPENED
Col. McCIuer Tells Why 'Phoning
Policemen Were Killed
Times.)

tRlcnLlOHu 1lL1eS.D
The following anonymous commune
cation was received by the me yester-
day:
Dear Sir-As you are perhaps as
familiar with the working of the tele-
phone as any one else in Richmond,
might it not be well to expalin Of it
can be satisfactorily done) through the
daily papers, the cause Of the accident
referred to in the enclosed clipping?
Please state also if there is danger
Of similar accidents here or elsewhere
at any time. By so doing you might
relieve the minds of some who might
otherwise ave the = ones remove
from their homes"
The clipping referred to by the
writer of the above note was the tele-
graphic item from st. Louis under
late OF September 4th, r~ecounting the
death and injury of several policemen
from electric shocks.
Responding to the suggestion of the
writer or the note, / desire TO say that
the telephones which the policemen
were using were doubtless those or the
municipal auxiliary fire alarm and po-
ice telephone system, which, like the
OF a similar system, main
tanned and operated by the city Of
Richmond, were contained in iron
boxes similar 10 those OF the Game
we'll fire alarm system attached to
lamp posts or telegraph poles on the
sidewalks. The location of these tele-
phones out of doors renders it neces-
sary for the individuals desiring TO use
the telephones " stand on the side
walk or ground. Under these condi-
tons, particularly when the ground Is
damp from a recent rain, if the user of
the telephone chances TO touch with his
nan the connecting terminals on +ha
receiver TO which the phone cords are
attached, his body furnishes a direct
path to earth for any electrical current
that may be on telephone wires.
These were doubtless the conditions
under which the accidents reported
from st. Louis occurred. Ar electric
light or power wire evidently became
accidentally crossed with the telephone
WIRE at some point contiguous or re-
mote and charged the telephone wires
to a point of danger, ready to seek the
most direct path to the earth. This
was afforded by the body of the po-
liceman, with the sad result stated in
the account
Such an accident could not possibly
nave occurred had the telephones been
located under roof, unless the victims
had touched the connecting posts or
tips Of the phone cords with one hand
and the gas or water pipe or other
grounded conductor with the other
hand.
AS long as the body Of an individual
at a telephone is insulated from the
earth, or does not afford P path for the
eXtraneouS current from the danger
ously charged wire to the earth, he is
in no danger. Only electricity OF high
electro-motive force such as lightning,
Will pass through what are ordinarily
called non-conductors. A dry floor
covered by ordinary carpets or mat
tingS is SUCH 4 nOn-conductor, and the
only danger to be apprehended from
the use of the telephone as ordinarily
located in telephone exchange stations
is from lightning, the very high cleo
trO-motive force Of which will some
times causes it to PASS though sub
stances that are completely impervious
to lower tension currents such as those
of electro light and power systems.
For this cas- telephone subscribers
should obey the Injunction of the tele-
phone companies and not attempt to
use their telephones during a thunder
storm close at hand.
If telephone users will refrain from
touching the metal part of the tele-
phone and always grasp the receiver
by the hard rubber case, and be care
full not 10 stand on damp earth or touch
grounded water or gas pipes, they will
be in no danger of experiencing the
fate of the St. Louis policemen who
neglected these ordinary precautions.
c. f. McCLUER,
General Manager Richmond Tel. Co.