CURIOUS ACCIDENTS AT THE ELECTRICAL EXHIBITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 529, 9 January 1882, Page 3

CURIOUS ACCIDENTS AT THE ELECTRICAL EXHIBITION.

aMßßß&akjijigfeiir . ■ >T , j ~' fr correspondent of the says :—Yesterwas leaning over a an extremely in-: of M. Christofle, made a connection f&Pdactjng wires which h:J * ' * ■' I

happened to be exposed. His chain became red hot, and set fire to his waistcoat. To-day I had some conversation with a gentleman who was nearly killed the other day by a Brush dynamoelectric machine. Part of the conducting wire was not insulated, and was lying on the floor. He touched the stand of a lamp which formed part of the conducting system. His body then formed a connection through the ground to the naked wire, and contracted his muscles so as to cause his hand to clench the lamps. 7,’en lamps were in circuit at the time, and so much current was passed through him that eight of them were extinguished. He was powerless to unclasp his hand. Every muscle in his body was paralysed. His face was distorted; his lungs were so acted upon that he could scarcely breathe. He could only utter a faint and unnatural cry. The workmen in the place fled from the workshop, believing that some explosion was about to happen. A friend came up and tried to unlock his hand. It was impossible. He then lifted his legs from the ground. This broke the circuit, and his hands were released, while burning sparks flew to his hands in the action of breaking the circuit. He was insensible, but has since then greatly recovered, and has devised an improvement to the lamp which will prevent a recurrence ot such an incident.