Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-04-07
SAVED BY LIGHTNING

The effect Of the electrical phonomo-
non on the nerves Of finely strung indi-
viduals is not unlike that communicated
by sudden and severe fright when tho
controlling power of the brain seems en-
tireg cut of from action. In persons OF
stronger nerves tho effect is not so great
unless ut some former period the nervous
system has been severely shocked, and
even stunned, by the force Of an electric
current.
No person has had moro frequent dem
onstration Of this fact than myself.
! am strong and robust by nature and
would scorn tho idea Of being nervous
/ have several times been placed In Pc
culiarly dangerous positions, where con.
siderable nerve and pluck were required
for tho right performance Of my duty.
and on all such occasions have acquitted
myself TO the satisfaction OF all my
friends. But brave and strong as am
IN tho face Of most dangers, am weak
and helpless In u heavy thunderstorm.
Since certain memorable night in
1883 have been absurdly susceptible to
the influence Of electricity in any form,
and Il is nm easy matter for me TO pre-
dict n rising storm long before II has
come up by She condition Of the atmos-
phero and tho effect 1t has upon my
nerves.
was telegraph operator ut small
way station on northern railway. My
duties consisted In signaling tho trains
that passed by my door, selling tickets
and acting rs telegraph operator.
These combined duties kept me busy,
and as there was scarcely house within
two miles Of tho station the quiotncss Of
the place would have been unbearablo
had been ut leisure TO notice II. But
when my work was finished. late in tho
afternoon. / always found n short time
10 devote to reading before the evening
express came in. and this was soon looked
forward TO with gcnuin6 delight by me
as relief from my other duties.
The express was not always up TO
time. and | frequently found MYSELF
waiting until o'clock before she mr.
rived. reading, walking and otherwise
passing the time as pleasantly as possible.
was engaged In the former occupa-
ton rather earlier than usual one warm,
sultry afternoon In August.
The weather had been no excessively
hot that had been compelled TO lay aside
all supcriluous garments and to do my
work in my shirt sleeves. 1t was just
such day as always closes with heavy
thunderstorm.
About o o'clock the atmosphere began
to change. A few clouds appeared upon
tho western horizon. and the sounds Of
distant thunder could be family heard.
A gentle breeze swnyod, the pines and
rustled tho green leaves Of the tall oaks.
thought at the time that It had u
mournful, ominous sound. and as tho
distant cry of n loon fell upon my ear
an unaccountable shiver ran through me.
laughed at my own fears and arose
from my feet TO dispel all gloomy forc-
holdings, and began TO lock up things
around tho freighthouso before tho
storm was upon me. When this was fin
ishcd, ! returned 10 my scat and watched
tho clouds scud across tho now dark
heavens.
In little while the rain began TO de-
scend In torrents, pattering upon the tin
roof OF the station house like leadon
bullets. The thunder poaled out with
heavy revcrberations, and tho lightning
was fairly binding.
closed up my instrument In the Of
fee and did not approach 1t again until
tho storm had passed. To have tam
pcrcd with 1t IN such tempest would
have been folly. The lightning, us II
was. played with tho wire and tho Keys
in an unpleasant manner and made mo
move farther away from Il. o
For half an hour tho storm continued
with unabatod fury, and all along tho
track little rivers Of rainwator were surg
ing and rushing. The afternoon had
grown suddenly dark, and II was impos-
6ible TO discern I'M object twenty yards
OH. The usual time for the arrival Of
the evening express had passed. and still
no indication Of her coming had been ro-
coived. This did not seem strangeto me,
as there was some danger Of the track
being washed out at different crossings.
and II was probable that some delay
would be caused
felt the lonosomeness Of my position
extremely that night. When l glanced
ont of the window into the murlsy dark
ness and heard the fitful rush of tho
wind through the pines and tremble at
tho heavy crash Of tho thunder, was
forced to admit that did not enjoy tho
situation.
Twice went ont on the platform 20
see II ] could hear anything Of the COM
ing train, but ON each occasion wasmet
with such blast Of wind and rain that
was only too glad to seek tho shelter Of
the house again.
When the small Office clock struck o, |
could stand 1t no longer, but donnrng
my cloth cap and coat opened tho door
20 sally forth again. As ! did so tho
shrill shrek Of woman greeted my us.
tonished ears.
At first | concluded that Il was tho
work OF the wind. but n second time tho
cry rose above the stcsm, clear and dis.
tinct. Therewas no mistalting the sound.
II was the cry Of awoman in distress,
and came out of tho storm not far dis.
tant
started along the platform with an
answering shout and hal not gone far
before l encountered n woman stagger-
ing along tho track.
whats tho natter" | inquired in rs
loud voice a, could command.
''For heavens sake, come quickl" sho
shrisked wildly. "Como quicil Tho
train has run of the limo! All are lost
my husband-my child--doad-dead"