Evening journal., 1901-04-11

IL dead. On the arrival of an ambu-
lance it was found that his leg was
broken, and he was also suffering from
shock. He was finally re-
moved to the hospital Young Ben
nett was not the only passenger who
sought to evade delay by leaving the
train and walking along the structure
TO the station Scores of other pas
sengefs did likewise, but We're warmed
IN season. as no other casualties re-
suited. Brooklyn Citizen.
The third-rall is causing more acci-
dents than usual lately, probably owl
ing to carelessness on the part OF those
who cross the tracks. At NeWlngtonI
yesterday Mr. and Mrs. August Fish
had an experience with the third-railI
which they will not soon forget. They
escaped without serious Injury, but the
horse they were driving was almost in
stantly killed by coming in contact
with the rail.
Mr., and Mrs. Fish were driving over
the four-track crossing when their
horse became frightened and started
on a run up the track, and just above
the station the horse swerved to the
next track. stepping on the rail charged
with electricity. He went down di-
rectly on this rail and there he lay.
no one daring to touch him, fearing toI
a fatal shock.
Before the main office could be tele-
phoned to shut of the power the horse
was dead. All this time Mrs Fish was
In the carriage and Il was not until
the horse fell on the third-rail and was
slowly being electrocuted that she was
assisted from her perilous position.
After a delay Of about half an hour the
power was shut off and the horse was
rolled off from the tracks into the
Iditch.-New Haven Leader.
Another penalty OF progress is APP
parent In the deadly quality OF the
|third-rail which Is now coming widely
into use ON electric railroads. The
Brooklyn bridge and q part of the
Brooklyn Elevated railway system
ARE now equipped with Il. as are other
roads, including ordinary surface
roads in other places. The workingI
of IL is eminently satisfactory. with
the exception of the ever-present dan
ger TO life. This latter feature. how
ever, demands instant and serious at
tention. II certainly asthough thel
perils OF this new "third-rail" might
days It may be generally practicable
to use a rail which shall carry no cleo
trio charge save at the moment and
point OF contact with the car motor
Until then, public safety demands thatl
the live rail- be guarded as carefully
as possible from any chance contact
with human beings. And certainly all
the station platforms might and should
hl. tnIn trff ssI
vent people being pushed, or falling,
or In any way getting down upon thel
tracks.-New York Press.
The heavy electric charge carried by
the "third-rail' has had another vic
tim at Weymouth, q section-hand on
the road meeting instant death by fall
ing upon this deadly rail. IL Is an il-l
lnstration of the danger which threat
ems all persons coming near a railroad
so equipped, and should serve as a SER
ious warning Mothers should takel
especial care that their little ones do !
not wander away from their sight and
venture upon the railroad. Ii seems
an unnecessary danger but since we
have Il, we must be exceedingly eau
tiOus that neither we ourselves nor
any Of our loved ones come In con-
tact with the deadly Water !
bury American.
The project to equip the elevated /
system Of New York with the third |
rail- is attracting much attention
from the fire underwriters and the firel
department. The "third-rail" is in usel
on part OF the elevated system inl
Chicago, and has already caused con-
Siderable trouble. The rail carries a |
tremendous volume OF electricity as J.
motive power for the cars. and thel
trouble comes when the flremen havel
occasion 10 use the elevated structure
as point from which to attack fires I
10 step on a rail is instant death to a I
fireman, and a line OF wet hose touch
ing the rail puts everything in con-
iusion and danger-Boston Herald.
We give this matter this much space
because if the Dover and Milford troll
ley people propose to use the ordinary
third rail, We want the people Of Kent
county to know what they are getting
and what they may expect. There Is
4 new third-rail system by which the ,
-hird-rail is divided up into short sec
lions insulated from each other. and |,
ihese are brought into electrical con-
tact and made live" rails by connect
ng switches, operated automatically
~ the presence OF the train in the sec
ions in such a way as to put current ,
rom the feeders into the conducting
'ail only for that part OF the rail ac- h
ually in use by the train The switcheslt
'pen again Immediately after the pas h
sage OF the train, leaving the raillt
dead behind the cars. In this way. |,
{ is said, there is no danger of in !
ury to persons who may touch the
'ail.
We do not presume to advise the
people Of Kent county as to the merits b
'f this improved third-rail system. Il
lut we merge them not TO
'ermit the ordinary third-ran TO
'e used on their public thoroughfares
or if they do, they will regret it. n