Arizona republican., 1892-12-29
LIGHTNING HAIR CUT
FLASH OVER THE WIRES BURNS OFF
 AN OPERATORS HAIR.

Rapid Work of ThunderboIt.
 Lightning and electricity have since II he days of William Penn always been
 ,rponymous. To the uninitiated the
 most dangerous spot during a thunder torn is telegraph office, but statistics
 rill substantiate the fact that no place
 l, safer, Many and varied are the
 .tories told of the freaks performed by N bsavenly currents, but seldom is there fatality attached to the tale.
 N Between the manufactured and nat
 rral electricity there appears from close T ahseryation to be a sort of affection, and rnler cover of tho slightest storm mu. nal exchanges of confidence are usual \ r rmdulged in by them.
 \ Modern devices, of course, have \ b-ought about this state of affairs. but t be most persistent assurance cannot 4 convince the timid of this fact Seldom I indeed will the veteran telegrapher lift \ his hand from the key upon which he is Al yellng out the mystic signs of the 3 Morse alphabet upon the approach or
 rrogress of the heaviest storms. while x inc young aspirant for telegraphic fame 3 will sit through storm with beating 4 heart rather than show the white feather 4 10 his companions by deserting his post II It frequently occurs that the dense humidity prevailing just previous to a
 storm, coupled with a heavy downfall \ af rain, will entice the strongest cleo q rcal currents from the wires, and for 3 he time being kills" their usefulness \ is during one of these storms that the 1 electric waves are felt, coming and I .0ug, and what danger there is is then
 most imminent. It was during one of
 these lulls in business, up in the big Il g7erating room of the Western Union I plegraph office recently, that several ex. Al prt telegraphers gathered around one # G the quad tables and began exchang- ng experiences with thunderbolts, fire balls and other electric phenomena too & numerous to mention.
 One of the humorous stories told had hrits central figure telegrapher named { Dlgardus. "Bogy," as he is called for < short, is known in the telegraph profes- 8 son from Boston to San Francisco and T h0m New Orleans to Toronto, Canada. 1 HepoSsessed a rowing disposition and \ mind that was blank as to the value of
 money Although "Bogy" at one time vas one of the finest operators in the business, these defects kept him always @ l the tramp. and from attaining any position of trust or prominence. Poor & "B0gy' is now in Chicago hospital ' nlnding up career that should have
 teen 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
 hal drifted out to railroad centering in 4 Rttsburg to get new start. He was
 always careful of his personal appear
 Ece, but, while he could shave himself foe cutting of his own hair was an i'm. 4 possibility. Pittsburg, some thirty miles \ rom the little station he was at, was A ibe nearest place wherein he could have ls tonsorial feat performed. His hair grew, the weather became hot and he iretted and fuIned. The comments of ,be railroad men didn't add to his com fort
 Late one afternoon after very hot day thunderstorm of remarkable in- 'ensity came up and the lightning played hide and seek among the relays, sound Is and switchboard in "BOgys" little Dby 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
 sned concluded to put the cut out plug
 n 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 vas wrapped in flame The shock threw him on the floor and for a moment stunned him. Shaking himself together be 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 tle 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 train drew up for orders,
 "Je-e-rusalemw shouted the conductor as he caught sight of "Bogy." Where's Your hair?'
 "Bogy," in alright, clapped his hands N his head and with startled ejacula- ton rushed for the little mirror hanging ma 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 imockdown blow old Jupiter had given aim had driven the thought of his hair Tor the moment out of his mind and un- al the conductors surprised cry had reached him he thought his hair still leeled CuttinO -WashinOtOn Star