Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-28


seldom is there a fatality attached to the tale.
Between the manufactured and natural
| electricity there appears, from close observa-
ton, to be sort of affection, and under cover
OF the slightest storm mutual exchanges of con-
fidences are usually INDUCED in by them.
Modern devices, of course, have brought
about this state OF affairs, but the most per-
sistent assurances cannot convince the timid Of
this fact. Seldom indeed will the veteran teleg-
| rapher 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
Geographic fame will sit through a storm with
beating heart rather than chow 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 heavy downfall of rain, will entice the
strongest electrical currents from the wires,
and for the time being kills their usefulness
1t Is during one OF these storms that the cleo
trio 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 expert
telegraphers gathered around one of the quad
tables and began exchanging experiences with
thunderbolts, fire balls and other electric phe-
nomena too numerous to mention.
BoGY AND HIS HAIR CUT.
One Of the humorous stories told had for its
central figure a telegrapher named Bogardus.
'Bogy." as he is called for short, is known in
the telegraph profession from Boston to San
Francisco and from New Orleans to Toronto
Canada. He possessed & rowing disposition,
love for good old Bourbon whisky and mind
that was blank as to the value Of money. Al
though "Bogy" at one time was. one of the
finest operators in the business these three de-
fects kept him always on the tramp and from
attaining any position Of trust or prominence.
Poor "Bogy" is now in q 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 fired" from the New York offices and for
bread and butter had drifted out on to a rail-
road centering in Pittsburg. to sober up and
get q new start. He was always careful of his
personal appearance and 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. To go to the city meant another
spree and consequent discharge, and 'Bogv'
knew this only too well. But his hair grew; the
weather became hot and he fretted and fumed.
The comments of the railroad men didn' add
to his comfort.
Late one afternoon after a very hot day a
thunder storm Of remarkable intensity came up
and the lightning played hide and seek among
the relays, saunders end switchboard in
.Bogy's' little ten by ten office. Every minute
the storm increased in intensity and the cleo
trical display was grandly sublime. As the
cracks OF the bolts on the switchboard became
more frequent and the flashes more luminous
''BOgy." not bit frightened. 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
cnme in the switchboard over the wire and
'Bogy's" head was wrapped in flame. The
shock threw him on the floor and for q moment
stunned him. Shaking himself together he got
graduated himself upon his lucky escape
There was peculiar odor in the little room
that "Bogy" could not clearly account for. but
concluded it came from the burned silk and
wax that made up the covering for the Office
wires.
rights and had returned to it, after making
temporary connection where the bolt had
struck, when train drew up for orders.
"Je-e-rusalem!' shouted the conductor as
he caught sight of 'Bogy.' "where's your
head and with startled ejaculation rushed for
the little mirror hanging in a rear corner Of the
Office. One look was enough. "Bogy" hadn't
~ much hair a month-Old baby. and strange
to relate the electric flame had not faxed his
calp in the slightest The knock-down blow
old Jupiter had given him had driven the
thought Of his hair for the moment out of his
mind. and until the conductors surprised cry
had reached him he thought his hair still needed
cutting.
"DExTER" THOROUGHLY SCARED.
Another good story was told, the local sur
roundings being at the little telegraph station
at Benning, just outside ct Washington. At
he time of the occurrence of the incident herein
stated an operator by the name of Brady was
on duty nights and none loved a practical Joke
better than he. A constant lounger around the
Office was an old darkey by the name of Poin-
dexter and big lazy companion named Julius
;wo worthless steer clear Of the Office without
resorting to force, but all were failures. Now
and then Julius would be missed for two or
hree nights. but "Dexter." as he was called for
brevity sake, always turned up at nightfan and
left with the break Of day.
The telegraph Office proper was a small par
| .itioned-off apartment from the waiting room
| for passengers and contained one chair. On
| the evening in question a terrific storm broke
| suddenly over that section and about a dozen
people, ''DeXtcr lnciuutu. tOOk refuge In the
| station Considerable of the down pouring rain
came in under the door and was swept by
Brady into the little telegraph apartment.
wet floor will act as an effective ground or mag
net for the wire in case person places his
hand upon any Of the instruments while his
feet rest on the wet floor. Brady knew this
| and also knew Of "Dextcrs" habit of falling
asleep IL left alone for few minutes. Think
| ing to give the old darkey o shock and a fright
| Brady called him to the Office and told him to
watch things while he attended to something
else outside.
dexter" Aattered by the responsibility
placed upon him, Immediately pulled the door
| shut and took seat in the chair. Two minutes
| had hardly passed when his head was forward
on his arms, which were spread out on the tn
BILE, one Of which covered the telegraph key,
| and loud snore announced the fact that he
had fallen asleep, as anticipated.
| The storm ragged with undated fury, and all
| the storm-beaten people in the station, except
Brady, forgot Dexter" in discussing the cleo
1 trica1 display in the heavens.
All at once O vivid fash of lightning WINS seen,
FOLLOWED by o thunderous peal At the same in.
| stant most unearthly shrek came from 'Dex-
ter" followed by the crash of breaking boards
| a. the thin partition came tumbling down, and
out rolled the old darkey into the midst Of the
terrified spectators.
II was at once seen that 'sDexter's' coat waa
on fire and the onlookers immediately sprnng to
his aid, beat out the fire and pulled him to his
feet. Then il was found that it was q case Of
moro frichtened than hurt. but Brady realized