Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-16
AN ELECTRIFIED Hotel.

Thos. Guinean, the well-known landlord OF
the Arcade, has been gaining considerable
popular notoriety of late as an inventor, ana
after his turning out refrigerator that would
preserve the unknown Morey, and litter
that would clarity the water above the uoa
dam, his friends about the Arcade were not
at all astonished the other morning to learn
that the hotel was surcharged with electricity
and ascribed it at once to one OF Thomas eX
periments in electrical science. 1t is true
that many were inclined to account Tor the
phenomenon by declaring that it was wholly
due to the north wind which had prevailed so
steadily for week, for it is well established
that when the north wind doth blow it sets
things up edgewise; horses coats will not
remain brushed down, nervous people have
headaches, Geographic instruments become
fractions, and people get cross and knotty.
like-all due to the supposed oyercharge OF
the atmosphere with electrical currents. So
when the cook at the Arcade the other morn
ing took up spoon and stirred the porridge
on the stove, and got shock that made him
see stars, he concluded that there was
either a heavy north wind outside,
or else Guinean had located
forty-horse power battery some
where about. He tried it again, and received
back-set that he'll long remember. Atten-
ton was called to the matter, and every one
who touched the stove or range Immediately
concluded that something was jerking his
nerves out. The story went about like wild
fire, and many visited the building to lnves-
tigate or satisfy curiosity. Sometimes the
range wouldn't "shocs," and then again 1t
would. Guinean looked grave, invited his
IL hut uatA
little; local scientists looked wise and said
less fthe superstitious declared it was the
devil, and the believers in ferry between here
and summerland ascribed the disturbances
to spirits The manifestations continued
irregularly, and were most prolonged when
the north wind blew strongest. Some Of the
guests averred that they could feel shocks
when they took up their knives and forks,
and, aided by generous fancy, others ELECTED
gentle tingles from the door knobs about the
house, aud drew sparks-they vowed-from
the holdings. So they went on, and the
wonder grew, until the solution came. The
folks over at the Western Union Telegraph
Company's office suddenly knocked all the ro-
nance, and mystery, and north wind, out of
the phenomenon, and much to Mr.. Guinean' s
relief drove the witches and spirits and light
ming off.
A 'loop-wire" from the telegraph office,
connecting with forty or fifty-cup battery,
crossed over the roof of the hotel. The wire
ran within an inch or two Of the iron stove
pipe leading upward from the range and
when the north wind blew the wire was held
against the pipe, the current descended and
charged the range. the dry box on which it
stood above the floor, that was frequently
moistened in cleaning, insulating the iron
effectually. When one standing by the
range touched any metallic article omit he of
course received a shock, and had he formed
perfect ''ground" connection, as for in
stance, had he touched pipe or wire lead
ing to the earth with the other hand, he
would have been knocked so far out of time
that only eternity would have found him,
for there was power enough in the battery to
kill book agent even. As to the electrical
door-knobs and holdings, Imagination and
vivid fancy must have supplied the cleo
tricity. The best of it is, that Guinean
now declares he knew what the matter
was all the while, and had oceans of fun over
it, while the telegraphers as warmly insist
that the landlord was completely befogged
and considered the occurrence the most won
derful thing of the day.