"SHORT CIRCUITED."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 665, 16 November 1909, Page 6

"SHORT CIRCUITED."

'■■■ •■-,-■■ ■. : ~ ,'♦■ ,; — — ■■■' ; '-'"' ■. ::: -'- ■■■' ■[■■■■i t ■'■' A'LTVELT EXPERIENCE, ;!; ;^; ' '~,V> : . ■■■ vON ANELE^TEic , CA8.. , . ■■ - ;: ;.-■'' ■ ; ■ V (Bt Teleßr»i)h.~l'rtM Aesecletlen.!, ;. -: •■'.■' /.-••■'■ , :'lv."..ciirittehurcb, Noveri(ber; 15. , iA number .of tram' oondactors returning to Chrißtchutch from, the Kiccarton B.acecdurse on a double-decked car on Saturday had a sensational eiperience of the powers of electricity. £)ne,.of the arms of an electric, pole near the Sockbura newehed had: been unaorthe strain jbf. the tiolly-wire, and when'- flie/car passed it the trolly-pole- was p;<s=£ed doim iatil it'came..in. contact with one ofthe'6tc«l the top of the' oar.' Imm'ediately illtere, waS' a ehorc circuit.'; ,The tiH)lley-wire was.; fused,- giving forth, a bit; electric'-flame, and'burnt through, one length' falling to the ground ..and ; the other■' remaining in contact with' the.car. . ■ .•.. ■ ...'' - , ' : / •■■ : - '.- The car was "alive," arid: the- , cpnduotore, who were on;top, with considerable calmness stood perfectly : 6till ■ and away from the metal wire. . The wire; fell' to ■ the earth t touchod one of the rails, and, m' an , i&tant'burnt through it. : .■' -'.v. _ . •'. 7/; ..; ; ','.;, ~■■ Motor-Inspector ■.Eichafdspn, ; -*ithVpromptitude,' drew on .his robber-gloves, and'freed the car;, of the wire,- : .thus allowing, the conductors tp vacate their dangeroue position. ■'. Under the superintendence bfilnspector Bateman, the Vos'repaired; in a•' remarkably short tini&'i'.." .:.-■.(.,: : .'■'. ■ The' damage/ done,'was slight, but it is certain had'Hiere beoii.passengerfl onthe'oar at the time, of. the accident the . result would have beeu-6enoue, since the,passengers would probably have stainpedod,;and in- their'.panic and endeavonrs to, climb ■ down would •■ hove' tOuohed the ■ metal railings, and received : the force , of ,the -electric ourrent ponTingmto.'themr .;.