Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-18
GOOD STORIES
ANTICS OF LIGHTNING ABOUT TELE-
GRAPH OFFICES.
+ Operaors-Old Boys Hair and How
Had t Rsmoyd -A Negroes Thrilling
Bxpsriencs-Gcod Stories Told BY
Knights Of the Key.

ate the l2ct tnat no place - Sa4el.
and varied are the stories told OF
oaks performed by heavenly cur
but seldom is there fatality at
20 the tale
Reen the manufactured and natur-
.tricity there appears, from close
alton, 10 be sort OF affection,
nder cover Of the slightest storm
.ual exchanges Of condolences are
ally INDUCED in by them.
lodern devices, OF course, have
uRht about this state Of affairs, but
most persistent assurances cannot
vince the timid Of this fact. Sell
q, indeed, will the veteran telegrapher
his hand from the key upon which
is spelling out the mystic signs OF
Morse alphabet upon the approach
progress of the heaviest storms, while
Young aspirant for Geographic fame
I sit through a storm with beating
,rt. rather than show the white
Their 10 his companions by deserving
post.
frequently occurs that the dense
,ldity prevailing just previous 10 a
N, coupled with q heavy downfall
an, viii entice the strongest cleo
II currents from the wires, and for
time being "kills" their usefulness.
) dying one of these storms that
u sctric wires are felt, coming and
and what danger there is is then
imminent. Ii was during one Of
lulls in business up ia the big OPP
" room Of the Western Union
,raph Office recently, that several
Z teleprapherS gathered around
4 the "auad" tables and began ex-
zing experiences with thunder
fire balls and other ele trio pbe-
too numerous to mention, says
ashington Star.
BOGN AND HIS HAIR CUT.
Of the humorous stories told had
central figure a telegrapher nam
:ardus. ''Bogy," as he is called
jrt, is known in the telegraph
sioa from Boston TO San Francisco
from New Orleans 20 Toronto,
ada. He possessed a rowing diSpo-
q, a love for good old Bourbon
key and a mind that was blank as
be value OF NmOney. Although
"" az one time was one OF the no
peratOrs in the business these three
Is kept him always on the tramp
rom attaining any position OF trust
Ominence. Poor "BOgy" is now in
cagO hospital rounding up a career
ihOuld have been bright one.
following occurred in the days
"Bogy" was in his prime. He had
cen "6red" from the New York
and for bread aud butter had
out onto a railroad centering IN
re, to sober up aud get a new
He was always careful OF his
al appearance, and, while he
have himself, the cutting of his
ir was an impoSsibility. Pitts
ONE thirty miles distant from the
.atiOn be was at, was the nearest
here he could have the tOnsOrial
srformed. To go 70 the city
another spree and consequent
ge, and "BOgy" knew this only
sll. But his hair grew, the
became hot, aud he fretted and
Tn comments OF the railroad
Int add to his comfort.
one afternoon after a very hot
hunder storm OF remarkable in
came up and the lightning
aide and seek among the relays,
and switchboard in "BOgy'S"
by ten office. Every minute
IN increased in intensity, and
rical display was grandly sub
s the cracks of the bolts on the
lrd became more frequent and
IS more luminous, "Bogy," not
frightened, concluded TO put the
out plug in the switchboard and
eby save hisinstruments from burn
up in case the lightning became too
ng.
A CLOSE CALL.
j the instant he applied the plug a
4. OF lightning struck a telegraph
e about fifty feet from the Office and
surplus electricity came in the
tch board over the wire and
ogy's" head was wrapped in flame
Q shock threw him on the floor and
q moment stunned him. ShaGing
lself together be got upon his feet
feeling no pains he congratulated
lself upon his lucky escape. There
! a peculiar odor In the little room
u "Bogy" could not clearly account
but concluded it came from the
ned silk and wax that made up the
ering for the office wires.
.Je-erusalemr shouted the conductor
be caught Sightof "Bogy." where's
II hair?"
Bogy," in alright clapped his hand
bis head and with a startled eiacula-
b rushed for the little mirror hanging
1 rear corner of the Office. One look
J enough. "Bogy" hadn't as much
{ as a month-Old baby, and strange
relate, the electric flame had not
ed his scalp IN the slightest The
)ck-down blow old Jupiter had given
D had driven the thought Of his hair
the the momentOut of his mind, and
iii the conductors surprised cry had
ched him he thought his hair still
sded cutting.
''DEXTER" THOROUGHLY SCARED
= good story Was told, the
lndings being ut the little
e atlon at BenniAg, just out
1iuSron. AT the time Of
e OF the incident herein
-ator by the name Of Brady
nights and non8 loved
better than ne. A con-
around the office(waS an
be name OF POindexter,
lmpanion named Julius.