Evening journal., 1901-04-11
THIRD RAIL DANGERS

system, and yesterday we received
from a Boston traction company an in
vitation TO visit the Athens Of Amer
lea" and see q new third-rail system
In operation Accompanying the inyi-
tation is a lurid circular, printed in
red and blue, entitled, Dangerous
Electric Third-Rail. The Public De
mand Is for Safety" Then follows
dozens of press opinions on the dan
gers OF the ordinary third-rail system
They are taken from the Boston Post
New York Sun, New York Times, New
Britain Record, Brooklyn Post, New
York Journal, Brooklyn Eagle, Hart
ford Globe, New Haven Register
Brooklyn Citizen, New Haven Leader
New York Herald, New York Post
New York World, Brooklyn Union
Cambridge Tribune. New York Tn-
Dune. Electricity, Hartford Times
Waterbury American, New York Press
Boston Record, Waltham Tribune, Jer'-
myn, CPa) Press, Ansonia Sentinel
Boston Herald and Boston Transcript.
Here are a few OF the extracts taken
from the papers:
Weymouth, Aug. S.-Michael Kane.
of bingham, a section hand employed
by the N. Y, ~ II. & II. railroad. was
instantly killed to-day by falling on
the third rail, which carries the elec-
tricity for the operation OF the line.
He was 35 years old.-BOston Post.
The FIRST man to become a victim to
TNa fnfrH-foH Of n.
elevated cars, met his death yesterday
on the structure OF the Brooklyn Ele-
waited railroad, near the station at
Hudson avenue and Fulton street A
heavy charge of electricity passed
through his body and after one goan
he sank down beside the rail, dead.
Inc unfortunate man was Charles Hull
DeIson' track-walker employed by
the company. The only effect of the
current was blackening OF the flesh
where IL entered and left the BODY
New York Times
Herbert Peterson. 9 years old Of
New Britain, while playing near the
track OF the Berlin branch OF the Com
solidated road, met with an accident
which has since terminated fatally.
While crossing the third-rail track he
stumbled and fell. His body lay di-
rectiy across the regular rail, and his
LETT leg was ON the third-rail. A short
circuit was formed and the full volt
age passed through his body. When
hnally pushed from the rail his clothes
were burning, and the flesh on his left
leg. from the knee TO the ankle. had
been burned to a crisp, clear to the
bone-Ncw Britain Record.
Charles Wagner, a lineman. received
yesterday almost the full voltage OF
the combined currents of the Il" third
ram system and the overhead trolley
Wires. and Is now in the Brooklyn hos
pltai. The man was terribly twisted
and contorted by the invisible power
which hurled him headlong to the
streaL-Brooklyn Post.
This has been a fruitful week for ac-
cidents OF various kinds upon the
third-rail, which makes life exciting
II Dit dangerous, within the limits
OF this city, Early in the week Arod
peterson, tye years old, while PLAYING
with some companions IN an orchard
near the Berlin branch third-rail
tracks, started to cross the track in a
hurry and stumbling fell full length
across the deadly rail. His Companions
quickly pushed him on the rail-. butI
not before he was frightfully burned
about the legs and neck. He will re-
cover, but Will carry the scars OF his
electric experience to the grave. al
couple OF evenings later in the week
Mr.. and Mrs. Augustus Fish. OF New
ington, started to drive across the track
la team, when a third-ran car bowl
ed merrily into them, killing the horse.
wrecking the wagon and injuring the
occupants, but fortunately not SER
iously. The following evening the
same car met a horse wandering uponI
the track near Charter Oak and gave
the animal a surprise party by knock
ing it down and rolling it along the
tracks Tor a few feet 1t lived long
enough 70 kick up few antics besidesI
the track There is growing feeling
IN this city that the third-rail tracks
are inadequately protected and thatI
the least the railroad company couid
do would be 10 fence in these tracks
so that children could not wander upon
them at will.-Hartford Globe.
The six-year old chestnut mare LEX
enooIr, owned IN New Jersey, but a
member Of f. A. Hydes string. cot loose
drom his stall at Charter Oak Park /
some time on Friday night. straved
over on to the third-rail track and
was electrocuted. The mare was
valuable one, having shown miles In
2.20 repeatedly, and was without rec
ord.-New Haven Register.
The regularity OF accidents to motor
cars on the elevated system using the
'third-raii and the consequent blocks
that ensue, continue with cl0ck-work
regularity. This morning a motor car
became disabled on Myrtle avenue.
near Adams street. One OF the passen- 1
gers, Prank Bennett, OF no. 1sel
Hleecker street, in hurry to reach his
place Of business. got OF the train and
urdsrtook to walk along the elevated
structure TO the nearest station. In
doing 50. be unconsciously stepped on /