The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-07
HOW. IT HAPPENED.
Col. Nj Ciucr Tells Why 'Phonins
l,oIlcemci, We're Killed.

Editor of The Times:
The following anonymous communication
Was received by me yesterday:
Dear Sir-As you are perhaps as 1amli-s
lar with The working OF the. telephone as
any one else in Richmond, might it not
be#well to explain Iii 1t can be satisfac-
torily done) through the daily papers, the
cause of the accident referred to IN the
enclosed ci pplng2 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 have the phones removed
from their homes
The clipping referred to by the writer of
the above note was the Geographic item
from st. Louis under date of September
ftil recounting the death and injury OF,
several policemen from electric Shocks
Responding to the suggestion Of the
writer of the note, desire to say that the
telephones which the policemen We're using
were doubtless those Of the municipal
auxiliary Fire Alarm and Police Telephone
system which, like the telephones of q
similar system, maintained and opera ted
by the city of Richmond, were contained
in iron boxes similar to those of the Game
well Fire Alarm system attached to lamp
posts or telegraph poles on the sidewalks
The location of these telephones out OF
doors renders it necessary for the indi-
viduais desiring to use the telephones to
stand on the sidewalk or ground. Under
these conditions, particularly when the
ground is damp from a recent rain, il the
user of the telephone chances to touch
with his hand the connecting terminals
on the receiver to which the phone
cords are attadled, his body furnishes a
direct path to earth for any electrical
current that may be on telephone wires.
These We're doubtless the conditions I'M
,ip1,
Louis occurred An electric light or power
wire evidently became accidentally crossed
with the TELEPHONE wire at some point con-
tiguous or remote and charged .tic tele-
phone wires to a point of danger, ready
to seek the most direct path to the earth.
This was afforded by the body of the
policeman, with the sad result stated in
the account.
Such an accident could not possibly have
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 OTTER grounded conductor with
the other hand.
AS long as the body of an Individual at
telephone is insulated from the EARTH
or does not afford a path for the extran-
eous current from the dangerously charged
wire to the earth. he is in no danger
such as lightning, will pass through what
are ordinarily called non-conductors. a
dry floor covered by ordinary carpets or
nattinSS is such non-cOnductor. and tie
only danger to be apprehended from the
use of the telephones as ordinarily located
in telephone exchange stations is from
lightning. the Very high electro-motive
force of which will sometimes cause it to
pass through substances that are COM
rletely impervicus to lower tension cur
rents such as those Of electric light and
power systems. For this reason telephone
subscribers should obey the Injunction OF
the telephone companies and not ATTEMPT
to use their telephones during a thunder
storm close at hand
Ii telephone users will refrain from
touching the metal part of the telephone
and always grasp the receiver by The hard
rubber case. and be careful not to stand
on damp earth or touch grounded water
or gas pipes. they will be in no danger
o. experiencing the fate Of the St Louis
policemen who neglected these ordinary
precautions.
c. e McCLUER,
General Manager Richmond Tel Co.