MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1687, 5 April 1886, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

A great sensation was recently created in an American town by an electrical catastrophe tbat resulted in tbe instantaneous death on one man and the horrid maim ing of another. The two victims, both Italians, were standing together at the corner of a street, One of them leaning against an electrio light pole. There was a flash of electricity, and instantaneously tbe man whose back was in conta jt with the pole dropped down dead at the feet of bis companion. The latter stooped to - pick np the dead mm, but as soon as his hand touched the body he recived a shock powerful enough to throw him to the grnuod, where he remained insensible until assistance came. On bis recovei y it was found tbat the hand i that had beeb brought into contact with the body of his deceased friend 1 was quite burned to a crisp, tbe injuries > necessitating the immediate amputation of tbat member. In vestigation showed | that tbe man who loet his life bad leaned j against a hoisting wire running along 1 tbe pole from the main wire to the ground and his body becoming entangled in it, when he fell, the shock was oommnnicated to his oompa lion who stooped ito raise him. The wire which brought about the doable oa amity was being swung throughout the town and no ! cnrreutsays the American papers which ! relate the accident, had been turned on there being no circuit It is conjectured J therefore, that it was crossed by tbe wire | of another company, and in this way the current was produced. Does not this further suggest the use of electricity in giving effect to capital punishment t