Evening journal., 1910-01-29
CLOSE TO DEATH
In NIGHT STORM
Police Suffer Shocks When
Electric Wires Cross Re-
porting System
SNOW FALLS AGAIN;
COLD WAVE COMING

For time last night Il looked a. II
the snow storm OF Christmas Day was
to be repeated with all its ACCOMMODATING
troubles. Snow began 70 fall early in The
evening and continued for sometime but
later turned 20 rain. Railroad and troll
ley officials, and the public in general.
hailed the change with delight. while
the storm was in progress. however. il
DID some damage, particularly to the
police and hre alarm reporting system
which had lust been repaired az consid-
cradle expense, following the storm OF
Christmas Day Several policemen es-
capped being electrocuted while making
their reports
The policeman most seriously affected
was Patroman Charles Hutton. lie open-
cd tne box at Ninetecnth and the Boule-
ward so send in report ana was thrown
on his back BY tho electrical anosk n
received Pairolmen Lewis and Sutton
met with similar accidents but forfn-
nateiy neither was seriously hurt.
Al the police station there was 4 ais
play Of electricity around the Gamewen
reporting machine and TIiilery wallace
who is acting operator IN place OF oper-
ator John Gaynor. received several shocks
which threw him against tho partition
that separates tho reporting booth from
the main room. He succeeded in getting
the four circuits in tho system grounded
which stopped the pyrotechnic display.
Ono Of tho reporting boxes was burned
out, but the circuits were kept intact.
The trouble 20 the reporting system was
caused by a 1--we electric wire falling
across the city wires at Fourteenth ana
Scott streets. II was only last Tuesday
that Superintendent Gray, OF the report
ing system, recommended 70 tho Police
Commission that the city wires be qiven
preference and placed on the first arm
Of all poles used by private corporations
IN the city. This would prevent high
power wires falling upon the oity's wires.
and trouble like that OF last night would
be averted.
The street car companies we're Grip
pied for several hours and the Peoples
Companys west side lines were tied up
for sometiAse The cars OF the WI !
mington City Company were at a stand
still for very short time but soon re- !
sumed operations.
The wire that fell at Fourteenth and
Scott streets struck an electric light wire
and then fell across the Peoples line wire
II that point. and burned out the cur
rent. AS result all cars west OF Or
lnge street were at a standstill. for two
hours until repairs could be made.
The Wilmington city cars stopped for
! short time because OF the sleet on the
trolley wire but no wiros fell.
The storm made walking miserable.
often had difficulty IA pre-
renting themselves from falling upon slip
'ery, slush-covered sidewalks the con.
iihon Of which was made worse because
he ''beautifuF began 20 melt. especially
n tho central part OF the city, as soon
Is a fell, this being due 70 the moder-
te temperature prevailing.
A drop in the mercury is expected So
lay. accompanied by high winds.
Although the storm abated during
he early morning hours, snow began
alling again at 1 o'clock with pros
'ects Of continuing throughout the af-
ernoon.