Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-16
SAVED BY LIGHTNING.

The effect of the electrical phenome-
non on the nerves of finely strung indi-
viduals is not unlike that communicated
by a sudden and severe fright when the
controlling power of the brain seems en-
tirely cut off from action. In persons of
stronger nerves the effect is not so great
unless at some former period the nervous
system has been severely shocked, and
even stunned, by the force of an electric
current.
No person has had more frequent dem
onstration of this fact than myself.
l am strong and robust by nature and
would scorn the idea of being nervous.
[have several times been placed in pc
:uliarly dangerous positions, whc.e con-
siderable nerve and pluck were required
Tor the right performance of my duty,
md on all such occasions have acquitted
myself to the satisfaction of all my
friends. But brave and strong as am
n the face of most dangers, l am weak
md helpless in heavy thunderstorm.
Since a certain memorable night in
1888 have been absurdly susceptible to
:he influence of electricity in any form,
md it is an easy matter for me to predict
rising storm long before it has come up
oy the condition of the atmosphere and
The effect it has upon my nerves.
was telegraph operator at small way
station on northern railway. My duties
consisted in signalling the trains that
passed by my door, selling tickets and
acting as operator.
These combined duties kept me busy,
and as there was scarcely house within
two miles of the station, the quietness
| of the place would have been unOcarable
had been at leisure to notice it. But
when my work was finished, late in the
afternoon, ! always found a short time
TO devote to reading before the evening
express came in, and this was soon looked
forward to with genuine delight by me
IS a relief from my other duties.
The eqprecs was not always up to time,
and frequently found myself waiting
| until 8 o'clock before she arrived, read
ing, walking and otherwise passing thu
lime as pleasantly as possible.
was engaged in the former occupa
lion rather earlier than usual one warm
;ultry afternoon in August.
The weather hads been so excessivel,
hot that / had been compelled to la.
aside all superfuous garments and to d.
my work in my shirt sleeves. 1t wa
Just such day as always closes with
neayy thunderstorm.
About 8 o'clock the atmosphere begal
10 change. A few clouds appeared upo
the western horizon, and the sounds o
distant thunder could be family heard
A gentle breeze swayed the pines an
rustled the green leaves Of the tall oaks
thought at the time that it had
mournful, ominous sound, and as tb
distant cry Of a loon fell upon my ear a
! unaccountable shiver ran through me.
laughed at my own fears and aros
from my feet to dispel all gloom
torebodings, and began to lock up thing
around the freighthouse before the storl
: was upon me. When this was finished
returned to my seat and watched ii
clouds scud across the now dark heaven
In little while the rain began. to d.
,cend in torrents, pattering upon the Il
D roof Of the station house like leaden bu
let's. The thunder pealed out wit
heavy reverberations, and the lightnir
was fairly binding.
closed up my instrument in the Off
and did not approach it again until d
storm had passed. To have. tamper'
with it in such tempest would have be,
folly. The lightning, as it were, play
with the wire and the keys in an u
z pleasant manner and made me move ft
Their away from 1t.
For half an hour the storm continu
nj oil
track little rivers of rainwater were SUI
ing and rushing. The afternoon h
a grown suddenly dark, and 1t was imp'
,ible to discern an object twenty var
off. The usual time for the arrival
the evening express had passed, and 81
20 indication of her coming had been
y ceived. This did not seem strange to n
as there was some danger of the ira
being washed out at different crossin
and it was probable that some de
y would be caused.
e / felt the lonesomeness of my post
+ extremely that night. When / CLAN
out of the window into the murky da
ness and heard the fitful rush Of
wind through the pines and trelnble
w the heavy crash of the thunder, ]
J forced to admit that did not enjoy
situation.
Twice went out on the platform
"a see IL could hear anything of the c.
ing train, but on each occasion was
with such blast Of wind and rain tn
was only too glad to seek the shelte
~ the house again.
su When the small Office clock struck
81 I could stand it no longer, but DOMINIC
cloth cap and coat / opened the doc
sally forth again. AS l did so the 81
shrek of a woman greeted my astonis
O ears.
Q At first concluded that II was
81 work of the wind, but second time
cry rose above the storm, clear and
tinct. There was no installing the sol