The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-17
Lightning Hair Cut.

Lightning and electricity have since
synonymous. To the uninitiated the
most dangerous spot during thunder
ttorm is telegraph Office, but statistics
will substantiate the fact that no place
Is safer. Many and varied are the
stories told of the freaks performed by
heavenly currents, but seldom is there
fatality attached to- the tale
Between the manufactured and nat
ural electricity there appears from close
observation to be a sort of affection, and
under cover of the slightest storm mu-
tual exchanges of confidence are usual
ly INDUCED in by them.
Modern devices, of course, have
brought about this state of affairs, but
the most persistent assurance cannot
convince the timid of this fact Seldom
indeed will the veteran telegrapher lift
his hand from the key upon which he is
spelling out the mystic signs of the
Morse alphabet upon the approach or
progress of the heaviest storms, while
the young aspirant for telegraphic fame
will sit through storm with beating
to his companions by deserving his post.
1t frequently occurs that the dense
humidity prevailing just previous to a
storm, coupled with a heavy downfall
of rain, will entice the strongest cleo
trical currents from the wires, and for
the time being kills" their usefulness.
1t is during one of these storms that the
electric waves are felt, coming and
going, and what danger there is is then
most imminent. 1t was during one of
these lulls in business, up in the big
operating room of the Western Union
telegraph Office recently, that several ex-
pert telegraphers gathered around one
of the quad tables and began exchang-
ing experiences with thunderbolts, fire.
balls and other electric phenomena too
numerous to mention.
One of the humorous stories told had
for it's central figure photographer named
Bogardus. "Bogy," as he is called for
short, is known in the telegraph profess
sion from Boston to San Francisco and
from New Orleans to Toronto, Canada.
He possessed a rowing disposition and
mind that was blank as to the value of
money. Although "Bogy" at one time
was one of the finest operators in the
business, these defects kept him always
on the tramp and from attaining any
position of trust or prominence. Poor
'BOgy" is now in a Chicago hospital,
rounding up career that should have
been bright one.
The following occurred in the days
WI ;,, l.
had recently been "fired" from the New
York offices, and for Bread and butter
had drifted out to railroad centering in
Pittsburg to get new start He was
always careful of his personal appear
ance, but, while he could shave himself.
the cutting of his own hair was an i'm
possibility. Pittsburg, some thirty miles
from the little station he was at, was
the nearest place wherein he could have
the tonsorial feat performed. His hair
grew, the weather became hot and he
fretted and fumed. The comments of
the railroad men didn't add to his COM
fort.
Late one afternoon after a very hot
day a thunderstorm of remarkable in
tensity came up and the lightning played
hide and seek among the relays, sound
ers and switchboard in "Bogy's" little
10 by 10 Office. Every minute the storm
increased in intensity and the electrical
display was grandly sublime. AS the
cracks of the bolts on the switchboard
became more frequent and the flashes
more luminous "Bogy," not bit fright
ened, concluded to put the cut out plug
in the switchboard and thereby save his
instruments from burning up in case the
lightning became too strong.
On the instant he applied the plug a
bolt of lightning struck telegraph pole
about fifty feet from the Office and the
surplus electricity came in the switch
board over the wire and ''Bogy's" head
was wrapped in flame, The shock threw
him on the floor and for moment
stunned him. Shaking himself together
he congratulated himself upon his lucky
escape. There was peculiar odor in
the room that "Bogy" could not clearly
account far, but concluded it came from
the burned silk and wax that made up
the covering for the Office wires.
He had just succeeded in putting his
Office to rights and had returned to it,
after making temporary coynection
where the bolt had struck, when train
drew up for orders.
"Je-e-rusalemr' shouted the conductor
as he caught sight of "Bogy," where's
yor~ hairf'
"Bogy," in alright, clapped his hands
to his head and with a startled ejacula-
ton rushed for the little mirror hanging
in rear corner of the office. One look
was enough. "Bogy" hadn't as much
hair as a one-month-old baby, and
strange to relate the electric flame had
not faxed his scalp in the slightest. The
Touchdown blow old Jupiter had given
him had driven the thought of his hair
for the moment out of his mind and I'M
til the conductors surprised cry had
reached him he thought his hair still