Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-09-27
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
Tho Exciting Experience of an Am.
ateur Electrician.

was summer boarding house on a
mountain top in the BerAshireS. The
speaker was Mr.. c., "A gray haired
man who was seated on the broad piaz-
Ia, we'll sheltered fgom the wet. while
a storm was in progress that had so
terrified the whole population of the
house as 70 keep all of chem out OF bed
iu spite OF the late hour The lightning
came in flashes OF binding vividness,
and tine crashes of thunder that fol-
lowed almost split our ears
Thank you" l called, in response.
Il am very wcl satisfied in here. You
are welcome 20 the nearer and more
perfect view" And continued 20 hug
my chimney corner and endeavored 10
bury my attention In a book
WHAT'S the matter? II is dry where
Tau sitting"
81 dare say. You are au electrician
and don't mind such things. To tell
You the truth, have no fancy for be-
ing struck by lightning-that's all"
The old man laughed You couldn't
find safer place than right here be-
side nae" said he.
''Nhy?"
because lightning never strikes
twice in .he same place, and I've been
strr.,i nee"
This WIS too much of a temptation to
resist I On his promise TO tell me
the story went out and shared his So
ciety for the rest OF the storm.
1T was when was about twenty-five
years old " he began, "aud tclcgraphy,
as We know it, was in its infancy.
Therr was no great Western Union
dozens of little lines were in use here,
there an everywhere. wanted 70
learn the art, having taste for cleo
tricity, and being at the time engaged
in experiments 10 perfect "a system
81 insulation more adapted TO the needs
OF the telegraph than any then known.
was poor; my collegiate course had
eaten up what little money my father
had left me- and the experiments /
was making were too costly for my
purse
"One day learned that number OF
New York business men, chiefly bank
ers and brokers, had resolved to run a
line from the city 10 New Rochelle. so
as 20 conncc; their dwellings in that
suburb with their offices i'm town, and
enable them, if at home. 10 be advised
instanter OF any information Of i'm
portance. The cost OF putting up the
wires was considerable, however, and
they were looking for some one TO
take care Of the New Rochelle office
who would not charge very much for
his services. l saw my chance at once
and volunteered TO take the place at a
modest salary if they would hire some
experienced telegrapher TO instruct me
in the alphabet and signs. The bar
gain was struck; / obtained my rudi-
mentary lessons for nothing. and ia the
course OF month was duly installed at
the key.
All went we'll until one hot summer
afternoou-such n one as this was a
few hours aSo-when heavy clouds
gathered IN the sky and a grcenish hue
pervadcd the atmosphere In those
days 50 little was known Of insulating
processes that no operator ever at
tempted 70 stay az his key when a
thunderstorm came up. This one APP
preached slowly, aud | was warned OF
1t also by hasty dispatch from the
New York man: Storm coming. Shall
close till il is over. / therefore gath
cred up some Of my papers and started
90 60 into another room in the build
ing till the storm had spent itself. As
was about locking my Office door /
was addressed by one OF the most beau
uful women ] ever saw. She was an
parcntIy about twenty years OF age.
ilcr large iustruus eyes were full of
tea -, and her voice was broken as Sine
spoke.
OH sir, she cried. YOU are not yo-
ing away2 I want TO- send message
ave- sorr-. madam. : answered
'ou. There Is storm apu~puch n- and
J 'n e"rIrl'ri ta .o., my iustru.
mcuJ
"Hut 'hs is d matter OF life and
death must get word 90 New Yorl,
at once
That win bc impossible. Tor the
New York operator has left hi, end Of
Tho line too
us there not some signal by winch
you can col. h.m hact'
iic would not respond n tried
De- iir would he afraid tl sic sith b,-
h-nt nn tue ..r while thc lightning
played so close
Hnt t1c storm ... Co., over u IS ~
York before tbi. Won't y1u ual,. Gu
chor' 'u cali h.m ipr my ,ufct
land then sl- poured forth her
story Her brother wl. dying aul
snn Has alone with hm aul do .r-y
ants at their home iu th, vil.a-. Tn
less sae could get word ln their father
who was in she city. ue.thcr he mo-.
their mother would boz able Co SEQ tb,
young man alive.
20 tried Oh explain 90 bier what "a risk
30 meant FOR me. Dut-qeu t.
younger then thau n1e A look int,
chose pleading. te1rd.IeI rrgs was too
much. Hri broke down fr Che midst
~ nv argument believe r..r..
have gone 20 che stake f3r hes NJ SID,
bad asked me iu tult wav Eac.
vest Tho storm had broken moan
while. and the thunder crashed A. b.
docs now while the lightning seemed
almost 20 dsrcc Boo az the window
called New York In moment re-
ce'ved my return signal The troubI,
there was over and thc operator yva.
10 longer 'sarir. OF sitting at Misplace
got on my message Just as / mad,
The last stroke OF Che signature tb.
whole room turned brilliant blue
fc.t nothing bad zoo Uue t1 thiDt
was simply b.otted oul Of e4I.ter..
Wth tfs last Impression ON wv sense.
of ths Intensity ~ Che color af. ar7unl
me-