The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-28
LIGHTNING HAIR CUT.
4 Flash Over the Wires Burns Off
An Operators Hair.

Rapid Work of ThunderboIt.
Lightning and electricity have since
the days of William Penn always been
synonymous. To the uninitiated the
most dangerous spot during thunder
STORM 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 a
fatality attached to the tale.
Between the manufactured and nat
ural electricity there appears from close
observation to be sort of affection, and
under cover, of the slightest storm mu-
tual exchanges of confidence are usual
~ INDUCED in by them.
Modern devices, Of course, have
brought about this state of affairs, but
the most persistent assurance cannot
convince the tinid of this fact. Seldom
indeed will the veteran telegrapher lift
his hand from the key upon which he is,
spelling sout the mystic signs of the,
Morse alphabet upon the approach or,
progress Of the heaviest storms, while
the young aspirant for Geographic fame
will sit through storm with beating
heart rather than show the white feather
to his companions by deserving his post
Tt frequently occurs that the dense
humidity prevailing just previous to
storm, coupled with heavy downfall
of rain, will entice the strongest cleo
trical currents from the wires, and for
4. L. fs1~S11eJ %I,oi,. 1rcaf1Jl,,ncc
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 photographers gathered around one
of the squad" 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 its 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 rowing disposition and
mind that was blank as to the value OF
money. Although "Bogy" at one time
was one off, tho 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 Chicago hospital.
rounding up career that should have
been a bright one.
The following occurred in the days
when "Bogy" was in his prime. He
had recently been ''fred" 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 very hot
day 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
1esbyi0 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 a. 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 bstame too strong.
On the instant he applied the plug
bolt of lighting, struck telegraph pole
about aftNfeet from the Office and the
surpluss ELECTRICITY came in the switch
board over thetwire and 'Bogy's" head
was wrappedin flame. The shock threw
him on the floor and for moment
stunnedGhim. Shaking himself together
he congratulated himself upon his lucky
escape. There was a peculiar odor in
the room thafN' Bogy" could not clearly
accountSfar, but concluded it came from
the burned silk,and wax that made up
the covering for the Office wires.
He had gust succeeded in putting his
office to rights and had returned to it,
after making temporary connection
where the bolt had struck, when train
drew up for orders.
ssJe-e-rusalem!" shouted the conductor
as he caught sight of "Bogy. 'Where's
your harp
'sBogy," 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 fame had
not faxed his scalp in the slightest. The
knockdown 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
needed cutting.-Washington Star.
New Boston g. Maine Officers.
1,o.ro~- I,,l.y 81 Mr. M TT Donovan