The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
SHOCKED BY ELECTRICITY
ALIVE AFTER $500 VOLTS PASSED
THROUGH HIS BRAIN.
Enough Electricity Passed Through
Body Of Fred FIad to Run Ele-
waited Road.
New York Herald.


He died. and yet he lives. The story is
unparalleled in the history of electricitys
accidents. About half-past o'clock on the
afternoon of Aug. II Frederick Flad, of Jer-
sey City, employed by the Westinghouse
Electric Company at the Kingsbridge pow
house. had half the voltage OF the entire
plant shot through his body-S,Sc0 volts. Of
265 amperes.
He was holding up a joint of iron pipe
conduit for containing electric wires at the
time, which workman, Mallory, was
measuring, when the plank on which Flad
stood tipped. To himself from falling
on nest of deadly wires below he threw
up his arm to get his balance. touched
other wires, and, like thunderbolt, twice
the voltage required for electrooution in
Sing Sing prison shot through the insula-
ton and through his body.
Flad Strengthened up and as he stiffened
like corpse his head came near enough to
still other wires above to form complete
circuit Mallory saw a stream OF blue name
eighteen inches long and six inches wide
roaring out of tlao mead with the noise
OF Il trolley Car. He saw the flame melting
the iron pipe above and the molten metal
dropping white and kissing the back of
his mead. How could the man be saved?
To put hanos OH him to pull him away
meant death.
lit was sweltering August afternoon.
Men and clothing steaming with perspira-
ton were perfect conductors OF the awful
current, and there was time to shout
for help; But Mallory was an expert He
knew what TO 40. Instantly, like d cata-
putt, he hurled himself headlong against
the paralyzed burning man. broke the cir
cult and they both tumbled to the floor to-
gether Mallory himself was badly shocked
and burned in the contact. but he was
saved.
This hero. Mallory. staggered to his feet
and shouted for help. dozen electricians
leaped to his side, took in the situation,
and while Flad was still roasting and Smok-
ing seized his arms and began the resuscl-
tation movements used in cases OF drown
ing. Six of the men spelled one another,
keeping up this artificial breathing process
pumping air in and out of his lungs by
working his arms and chest. There was no
sign of life--the heart had stopped beating
but they worked necessarily, never re-
taxing for moment.
The thing to do in such cases is to excite
the hearts action. a shock must be pro-
duced to start it beating again, just as one
joys a watch to set the balance wheel going
when ii stops. Injection of brandy into the
veins is one way, but there was no hypo-
dermic syringe at hand nor any brandy
Strong ammonia was used again and again,
and still there was no response. The spark
of life had evidently fed.
While the men were manipulating the
arms desperately young evangelist of the
neighborhood, the Rev. q. Bert Carpenter,
hurried in, fell on his knees in great emo
ton and began praying and continued pray
ing while the men pumped in the frenzy of
desperation. Such scene was never be-
fore witnessed in power house. The
steamer, were throbbng and laundering,
the big dynamos roaring like tornado,
and the brushes, bathed in blue flame, were
sending their currents to all the lines be-
tween Harlem and Yonkers. Traffic could
not stop even for dying man. But fully
one-half of this Niagara of bolt lightning
had passed through the human body over
which strong men were working and a
clergyman praying.
The Fordham Hospital ambulance which
had been telephoned for when Flad fell,
was going at full speed two miles away,
the horse in a gallop tearing down the long
hills above the river. 1t was a race for life.
| Never had such travelling been seen in that
neghborhood. People rushed to the streets
nue. that dreadful accident had happened
| at the power house. At last the ambulance
appeared in sight little bobbing vehicle.
| fully half a mile away, on the last long
stretch of road that sweeps down to the
4 Harlem.
The men working Flad's arms were fear
| ing the poor man was beyong help when
| suddenly his frame heaved. Great knots of
| muscles twitched convulsfvely and F'lad
| tried to leap into the air. 1t took five men
| to hold him to the floor. The contraction
| of his muscles and the terrible commissions
which were now writing him were enough
| to break every bone in his body. It.was on
4 the second gallery, with hundreds of live
wires and the men were afraid that Flad
| would break from their grasp ana tumble
| on the dynamos below. Finally he became
| quieter, his heart began to beat a little, very
| family; then froth dubbed on his lips
blood appeared and the heart began to beat
| strongly.
COMING TO LIFE.
THANK God" cried the preacher, "Bless
| the Lord. The dead is coming to life" But
| F'lad sank away until his heart barely fiut-
tered. Fortunately the ambulance was at
| hand, the surgeon took charge of the case,
| putting the man into the vehicle. and away
| they dashed for the hospital.
| The seemed hopeless, but when they
were half way UP the hill Flad opened his
| eyes and in faint, agonizing cry gasped,
| Pray for me, Jack Then to the ambu-
| lance surgeon Dear doctor, will be good
| Tell me what to do and I'll obey Then
| the man tainted and did not come to him.
| self again until 3 o'clock the next morning
| i'm the Fordham Hospital.
| He seemed to wake out of a horrible
| nightmare. He stared wildly at the nurse
| and asked where he was. Then he tainted
| again. Yet he gained strength slowly, and
| finally was strong enough to talk intelli-
| gently and realize that miracle had hap
| pened.
The faithful young evangelist rejoiced
| greatly and assured the sufferer that the
| a warning to the unconverted. Flad, with
| a wild, PARKWAY look in his eyes. said tc
J the parson: You can't tell me anything