San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-08
LIGHTNING HAIR CUT
A FLASH OVER THE WIRES BURNS OFF
AN OPERATORS HAIR.

Sad Need OF a.Barber's Manipulatbons.
Rapid Work of "a T~hunderbolt
Lightning and electricity have since
the days of William Penn always been
synonymous. To the uninitiated the
most dangerous. spot during a thunder.
storm is a 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 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 OF
progress of the heaviest storms, while
the young aspirant for Geographic fame
will sit through a storm with beating
heart rather than show the white feather
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.
II 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 toe
numerous to mention.
One of the humorous stories told had
for its central figure a telegrapher named
Bogardus. "Bogy," as he is called fol-
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 a
mind that was blank as to the value OF
money. Although "Bogy" at n 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 a career that should have
been a bright one.
The following occurred in the days
when "Bogy" was in his prime. He
had recently been fired" from the New
York offices, and for bread and butter
had drifted out to a railroad centering in
Pittsburg to get a 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. P~ittsburg, 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 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 became too strong.
On the instant he applied the plug a
bolt of lightning struck a 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 a moment
stunned him. Shaking himself together
he congratulated himself upon his lucky
escape. There was a 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 a temporary connection
where the bolt had struck, when a train
drew up for orders.
'Je-e-rusalem!" shouted the conductor
as he caught sight of "Bogy." Where's
your hairY'
"Bogy," in alright, clapped his hands
~ his baad opd with q startled a~iacula-