A Terrifying Experience

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 5

A Terrifying Experience

[Per Press Association. Copyright.'] PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday. When the electric power failed in Wellington yesterday afternoon, there was almost a tragedy behind the in-

terruption. Five linesmen were engaged in running a new service line on four wires on the Longburn-Rongotea road. The service wires were laid slack on the road, and cars proceeding at normal speed were passing over them without trouble.

Then a car came along at an alleged high speed, and the suction of j the front wheels caused one wire to become fouled under the car. which carried the wire along the road until it broke under the strain. The line was directly under the 110,000-volt line from Mangahao to! Eunnythorpe, and the wire flew up I into the live line. I A terrific power arc occurred, | with a tremendous roar, and extending to the ground and travelling in all directions along the line, including telephone lines, until the protective apparatus, involving the Arapuni, Waikaremoana and Mangahao generating stations, cut off the supply in the sections involved. The linesmen received a severe fright, but all escaped without serious harm. So great was the power arc that a hedge under the main line was burned.