The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-04
WIRES
FLASH FIRE
Rain.Laden Limbs
Cut Through
Insulation.
= LIGHTNING flashes lighted the sky

all over the city last evening, but
~ it was the blaze of artificial light
ming. AS the weight of swaying limbs
of overhanging trees brought their
pressure upon the electric wires there
was a tearing away of insulating fibres
and then a flash of light as the burning
copper fared and sputtered. High
against the dull sky the blazes shot
to sink away an instant later. 1t was
magnificent pyrotechnics while it last
ed, but it was not only dangerous but
1t was costly, and tiresome for those
who found themselves without lights.
The pyrotechnics caused general APP
prehenson among pedestrians and driv-
ers of vehicles and all realized the dan
ger of falling live wires across stress
or upon sidewalks. During the per-
| formance of the Lilliputians at the
Opera House. at about 10 o'clock q bril-
liant flash followed by peculiar report
reached the ears of the audience. Sew
cral persons rushed out to find that the
noise and illumination proceeded from
an elect ic wire from which the lnsula-
ton had been worn Off by the contiguity
OF the tree limbs opposite the Opera
House. Chester Doyle and Officer Fer
| reira saw the danger to the hacks lined
up under the trees and ordered them
away to places of safety.
The Hawaiian Electric Company and
the Government electric company were
telephoned to as 1t was not known
whether it was a government or a Ha-
waiian electric wire burning. The fire
al ha u-ir nd ba n
mics were to be seen in two or three
trees. No one was permitted to use the
sidewalk under the dangerous wires and
hacks were ordered to the lower side Of
the street. Just as the audience was
leaving the Opera House the wire part
ed and fell to the sidewalk with beau
tiful display Of flash and sparks.
While this wire was being watched
a brilliant illumination lit up the en-
tire Makiki district, seemingly from the
direction Of Punahou. 1t had the APP
pearance of the flash from an explosion
of some nature. 1t was learned that
this was caused by the burning of the
wire at the Waikiki turn.
The elements conspired against the
Hawaiian Electric Company in a man.
ner which gave the company no lee
the outlying districts of Honolulu, no
tably Waikiki. Nuuanu valley and
Makiki, were in darkness for the en-
tire night. The immediate causes OF
the burning of the wires and the con-
sequent cutting off OF current for
house lighting, was from the heavy
fall Of rain weighing down the
branches of trees through which the
company's wires run, the insulation be-
ing sawed from the wires, which then
burned in two and the ends dropped
to the ground. AS far as reported no
fatalities occurred through live wires,
as the working gangs from the cleo
trio company were out all night look
ing after the damage and watching
every break.
When darkness settled over the city
yesterday and the rainfall increased
residents Of Makiki and Nuuanu val
ley found themselves without lights.
Telephone inquiries at the powerhouse
brought out the answer that the wires
had burned. About o'clock one OF the
wires in the Makiki district was re
paired, and those below Beretania
street and as far out as Piikoi street,
again had lights. Manager Gartley, OF
the electric company, sent repairing
gangs out wherever 1t was known that
a wire was in danger of burning in
half. Very often the men had Difficult
ty in locating the breaks. 1t was their
plan to make connection where the
break had occurred, thus giving light
| to the section between the break and
the power house. The district beyond
was deprived of current.
Reports were sent In of breaks in
kakaako one at the Waikiki turn, on
kinau street, on King street near the
Capitol, and one at School and Nuu-
anu streets. The wires were carrying
the usual 1000 volts, alternating cur
rent, no direct current being carried
under the present arrangements. Nuu-
anu valley above School street was in
darkness, as was Waikiki, Pawaa and
the entire section above Kinau street.
The districts were finally lighted when
repairs were made to the broken ends
Of wires.
| Every dynamo at the powerhouse of
the Hawaiian Electric Company was
running during the early part OF the
evening in an effort to supply current.
Two circuits were finally cut off. The
electric company says that under the
present' circumstances, with the wires
running along the sides of streets,
| they have to De strung through tops
of trees. Everywhere the people object
to the cutting of limbs. Space is gem
orally made when wires are strung.
but owing to the prolific foliage. which
| grows so quickly the wires are often
| surrounded by masses of leaves and
rest on branches. When a heavy rain
fall occurs, such as that of last night
the trouble commences. The conditions
are such now that the rainy season has
set in, that in order to protect the
lives of the people. many trees may
l hl.s ~ s..t.