Arizona republican., 1893-02-03
LIGHTNING HAIR CUT
A FLASH OVER THE WIRES BURNS OFF
AN OPERATORS HAIR.

Rapid Work of u ThunderboIt.
Lightning and electricity have since
kle days OF William Penn always been
synonymous 10 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 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 or
progress of the heaviest storms. while
the young aspirant for telegraphic fame
will sit through storm with beating
heart rather than show the white feather
b 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
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 telegraphers gathered around one
of the quad" 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 telegrapher named
Rogardus, "Bogy," as he is called for
short, is known in the telegraph profess
from New Orleans to Toronto, Canada
He possessed a rowing disposition and
mind that was blank as to the value Of
money. Although "Bogy" at one 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 bright one.
The following occurred in the days
when "Bogy" was in bis prime. He
had recently been fired" 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 fuined. 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 mp and the lightning played
hide and seek among the relays, sound
er5 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 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 |.
N''N'Nl'' A+inA' NtAo a DNNAlllil ONlOI III D
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 temporary connection
where the bolt had struck, when train
drew up for orders.
"Je-e-rusaleIn!"s shouted the conductor
as he caught sight of "Bogy." Where's |
your hair;'
'Bogy," in alright, clapped mis- hands
to his head and with a startled ejacula-
tiOn rushed for the little mirror hanging
in rear corner of the office. One look |
was enough, "Bogy" hadn't as much |
hair as one-month-old baby, and .
strange to relate the electric flame had |
not faxed his scalp in the slightest The
knockdown blow old Jupiter had given |