Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-08-18
ELECTRIFIED.

A very peculiar electrical s1ase VI 'ne
atmosphere has been noted In this Sec
ton occasionally ct certain times. The
writer Of this arst noticed II in Como.
Palmyra District. in 1868. Every stove
and s,ovspipe in the town one day
seemed perfectly saturated or charged
with electricity. so much so thai any
person touching them was sure to receive
a sharp shock. Lifting the bsan-kst'i'
or the fry-pan from the stove was q
c~uriously risky operation. and had 70 Do
judiciously done. Everybody had their
funny, yet scientifically interesting
anecdotes to tell about it. The weather
had been very dry for some time, and
a high wind. blowing clouds OF dust
and sand. prevailed during the eon-
t~inuance Of the electrical phenom-
enon. Two or three years aitsrwsrd. in
Virginia City the ssms electrical oondi'
ton was noted and mentioned IN the
daily papers under the head Of Stove
pipe Electricity" Among other Illus
trative incidents there mentioned was
the experience Of Carl York. the we'll
known cornst player. Mrs. York was
getting breakfast ready, when suddenly
shs screamed out from the kitchen,
"Coms here, Carl, quick Something's
der matter NIT der shtovs. and der fry
pans shtill worser." Old Carl said /:
"oh, well now. you must pc Elm tam
WOOL" He resolutely seized the fry-pan
and received q sharp shock. which made
him throw iry.pan, meat and all out upon
the floor. "Dat vos a piece oil der tuy-
fel in dat ~fry-pan." said Carl. Come
along old woman. and ven go out to
breakfast" And they went. The same
electrical condition was noticed all over
the city. The season was very dry. and
q very high wind was prevailing. which
sent the dust and sand sweeping asrcsly
throughout the city. And this very dry
and peculiar state OF the atmosphere,
combined with the whirling storm OF
dust and sand passing through the air
and among tho lofty stove pipes. doubt
less produced f~rictional electricity.
During the Last two or three weeks q
similar electric state OF affairs has been
noticed by many on the Comstock. Per
sons touching stoves or utensils con
nected Herewith. wire clothes lines, and
similar arrangements, frequently receive
little tinsling shocks OF electricity. and
even linen or cotton articles Of clothing
snsp aud crackls and in the dark show
luminous sparks Of electricity. The
season has been very dry thus far. and.
although We have had no very high
winds, the air seems full OF electricity.
Whether . heavy cloudburst or . big
earthquake 10 to be the result Of ell this
remains to be seen. Meanwhile the air
seems pure and good. the health OF the
people continues excellent and stocks
are up. The following from the Reno
Gas.ts Of the l6th instant IL illustrative
Of the electrical phenomenon OF which
we speak:
A thunder storm came down upon Warm
Springs valley yesterday. The air was full
Of electricity. and At Royce's station every
thing was snspping. Mrs. Royce was do.
ing some work about her kitchen. and
happening to touch the stove received .
violent shock. which nearly knocked her
down. She called out and her husband
came in. but could touch nothing without
n heavy shock. He called iu the hostler.
who picked up q stove lid. but dropped IL
Al quickly. yelling. 'Ohl be isbbers. its
full Of minerality."