DEATH BY ELECTRICITY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1975, 28 November 1889, Page 3

DEATH BY ELECTRICITY.

The terrible uncertainty of electricity in its effects upon the human body was never better illustrated than in the case of Mr H. M. Stevens, Boston, who, four years ago reoieved a shock equivalent to 1500 volts—the greatest on record, wo believe. The fact that he recovered after awful agony, and is to-day a healthy and robust man, argues strongly against the claim of electrical experts that electricity affords a simple and efficacious method of producing death. Mr Stevens is assistant superintendent of the Boston Electric Light Company, He was superintendent four years ago of the Middlesex Electric Lighting Company, Lowell, Massachusetts. In making a tour of inspection of the machines he came in contact with the brnsh of an 85-light dynamo. He slipped upon an oily spot on the floor, instinctively put out both hands to save himself, and unwittingly grabbed with either hand the positive and negative brushes of the machine. A circuit was completed, with his body as the medium, and a force of electricity equal to 50,000 candle power, or about 1500 volts, shot instantaneously through him, and prostrated him violently in the field of the machine. There he lay for a few seconds, the current all the time entering his body, until finally, from his own weight, he dropped off to the floor. To all appearances he was dead. He was picked up and carried away. The pulse and the heart showed no signs of life. The eyes were set, the limbs were rigid, and the arms were drawn close to the body. The flesh was cold. The medical men pounded and rubbed for an hour, but the body never moved a muscle. It was at this point that the unforseen, by seme called the miraculous, happened. Mr Stevens had all the while been insulated with enough electricity in his system to charge another machine. He had been lying all the time on the floor. An attendant at the station suggested placing the body on the ground, where it was damp. This was done and Mr Stevens began to revive. After an hour the patient became conscious, but it was the consciousness of agony. The electricity was slowly passing out of the body into the ground. After treating him for a couple of weeks, the doctors brought him round, but from that day to this Mr Stevens has carried the reminders of that terrible charge of 1500 volts in his body. He is a sort of dynamo all in himself. He is very sensitive to the approach or presence of a thunder storm, and always feels depressed during its continuance. As the charge with which it is proposed to execute murderers in New York, since the new law on the subject has been enacted, is no greater than that which passed through Mr Stevens’ body, it is open to question whether they will be killed at all.