The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-12-09
ELECTRIC ECCENTRICITIES
Curious Freaks of the Lightning on a
Colorado Mountain Peak.

Mr.. Josiah Copley writes to the Pitts
burg Gazette as follows 81 have given
some attention among the Rocky noun
tains to the extraordinary force and ten
sion of electricity on some of the high
SUBMITS, and the strange phenomena
which are displayed every time storm
clouds gather upon them. My facts
have been gathered from men of high
Intelligence and veracity; and as there
is substantial agreement in their state
ments, their testimony may be taksn as
strict verify
SIN the summer of 1868, Wilbur f.
Stone, now a citizen of Pueblo, accom-
panied by tall and athletic noun
taineer, assembled to the summit of
Mount Lincoln for the purpose of as
certaining its altitude barometrically
The day was clear and pleasant, and the
wind moderate. After accomplishing
their object, Mr.. Stone observed heavy
cloud approaching rapidly from the
northwest, sweeping furiously through
a congeries of rugged and jagged peaks,
roaring louder and louder as it approach
ed the loflier summit upon which they
stood. When the cloud reached the
side of the mountain, driven by fierce
wind, it rose rapidly toward the sum-
NIT. While gazing at it Mr.. Stone
stretched his arm toward il, when in
stantly his fingers began to give out a
sound like the buzzing of large bug or
beetle. Very soon this buzzing and
snapring sound seemed to be all around
them, and more particularly in their
hair. The other man, whose bushy
locks were so long that they hung down
to his shoulders, supposing that bug
had really got into his hat, took it of,
when, behold, his hair rose and stood
on end. giving him ali appearance at
once ludicrous and hideous. MIR. Stone,
whose hair was shorter and lighter, then
took off his hat, and found his hair
affected in the same way, He then ez-
tended his hand toward his companion,
when chain of electric sparks flew out
of the ends of his fingers, although
covered with g thick glove, until an
equilibrium was established. Mean
while the buzzing kept up all around.
ga bank of drifted snow lay upon the
northeast side of the summit. Two
dogs which were with them got upon
no cpou- an1
gambols, as if in a high state of enjoy
ment; but they were partially sheltered
from the wind which then swept like a
hurricane across the summit. Mr..
Stone threw stick little way above
them, which one of the dogs rand to pick
up: but just as he reached it the wind
struck him, and with it an electric shock,
which caused him to utter loud cry
and take to his heels down the noun
tain side. with his hair like an angry or
scared cat. Mr.. Stone then went to
get the stick He had another stick in
his hand, which he plunged into the
crushed snow to prevent slipping. Be
fore he reached the first stick he, too,
got into the wind and received shock
which knocked the stick out of his hand.
He then returned to his original place.
The storm of snow, wind, and electrici-
ty was raging more furiously than ever,
but there as no thunder, only a dis
tant rambling.
''The next sensation was an almost
uncomfortable pricklng, as if their entire
bodies had been covered with singing
insects, or if line needle had been
applied to every pore, while sparks
We're flying from one man to the other,
and from one object to another contin.
ually, with still more vigorous buzzine
and swapping sounds. Uttering strong
exclamation of terror the bold noun
taineer sprang from the summit and
descended the side of the mountain
about fifty feet, and Mr.. Stone followed
him. There they stopped for few mo-
ments, the confused noises and prickl
ing sensation continuing. Then broad
sheet of lightning, with an intensely
bright spark or stream in the cen tire
surrounded, or rather enveloped them
Instantly the buzzing and prickline
ceased, and they were perfectly at ease.
The electricity with which they were
moment before SO heavily charged was
withdrawn. Still there was not the
slightest defamation.
Mr.. Stone then told his companion
that all was right-that they themselves,
together with the mountain top and
everything else, being charged to the
utmost, all was positive but now equil
ibrium was restored. So they returned
TO the summit to observe still more close.
ly the strange phenomena. The storm
cloud was still climbing the mountain
side still pouring over the summit and
descending the opposite side, rs a tor
rent of water acts upon an obstructino
rock. In few moments. however. the
bnzzing sound recommended. Ii hand
was elevated sparks dashed out as be.
fore The summit is narrow, but wha!
there is of it is nearly level, and the des-
cent from it sudden and abrupt, although
on one side not very steep. On the north
and northeast there is a tremendous
precipice. Mr.. Stone observed that the
most powerful current of electricity was
just at the leeward edge of the summit,
where the dog received the shock. and
where the stick was knocked out of his
own hand
Other broad but silent flashes of COM
bined sheet and chain lightning occurr-