The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-04

in one hour and half. Their great
speed and diminutive forms would
especially recommend swallows for
use in war, as it would not be an easy
matter to shoot such carriers on the
wing"
AN unusual electrical accident,
which occurred at the Norfolk Wa.
Navy Yard, appears TO have been ex-
planned and with ths explanation
comes the necessity Of making pro-
vision to ground steel or iron vessels
that are in dry dock, especially dur
ing the season OF electrical storms.
Two men standing in water under
the vessel, which was insulated by
its supports Of dry wood, were ap-
parently struck by lightning, al
! though men on the deck OF the ves-
sci felt no shock. One OF the men
was killed instantly and the other
died in n few hours. The explanation
now given is that the vessel was not
struck by lightning in the ordinary
sense, but that it acted as an enor-
nous condenser such as is used for
collecting static electricity. As it
was insulated from the ground IL be-
came heavily charged, and was dis
charged through the men when
they, standing in the water, and thus
making IA good ground, touched the
ground such vessels while they are in
dry dock.
THE idea Of using telephone to
make u taciturn subject talk is, be-
lieve, original with "A detective in our
city" said Henry f. Mackey, Of
Richmond, Va, to n Times reporter.
"A man who has been born and raised
away back in the hills, where neither
telegraph nor telephone was known.
was brought in on II charge OF horse
stealing. 1t was suspected that he
had stolen several horses, but the evil
dence against him was not very
strong. The detective had him i'm
his office and cautioned him that il
he did not tell the truth the informa-
tion would come against him through
the funny-looking instrument in the
corner. The man laughed and said
he was not as ignorant as he looked,
whereupon the detective rang up the
chiefs Office, and by preconcerted
signal the suspected thefts Of the
prisoner were called through the
phone in u very gruif voice. The de-
tective placed the phone firmly
against the prisoners ear and his
astonishment when he heard histhefts
narrated was ludicrous. His innate
superstition proved his ruin, for he
promptly admitted his guilt and gave
information which led to the recov-
cry of most OF the stolen horses. The
mountaineer' disgust when informed
how he had been tricked was very
palpable, but he still declined to be-
lieve that one man could talk to an
other along wire. -
A STARTLING phenomenon was
witnessed Mt Clinton, Iowa, on re-
cent Sunday morning from four to
half past four o'clock, greatly fright
ening many superstitious people. II
began with an illumination Of the
northwest heavens, in blended red
and yellow, like the reflection from u
great fire, and sufficiently bright to
awaken many people from sound
sleep. 1t increased in brilliancy un-
til objects looked rs they do when
viewed through II pair Of yellow spec
.acles. In the southwest near the
horizon, lay large bank of clouds,
OF inky darkness. Soon the illumi-
nation shifted to the northwest and
as the sun rose bright shafts OF the
yellow were shot upward In various
directions, contrasting sharply on
the background OF red. The awe-in-
spring part OF the display came
about twenty minutes past four, when
slender ribbon Of delicate yellow
stretched athwart the sky from north
west to southwest, the extreme end
reaching far into the black clouds.
| { resembled the ray from powerful
searchlight, set in the lens Of yellow
glass, except il hung in the sky like
rainbow. 1t lasted about ten min
utes, when IL vanished together with
all the bright coorings, and the sky
was quickly overspread with gray
wintry looking clouds.
THE efficacy of black cat rs
lightning rod has been too frequently
the subject OF discussion and asser-
tion to be treated at length at the
present time. An illustration OF this
popular belief can be dcduced from
an incident that occurred to the wife
of we'll known business man of
Washington. The young matron had
been eXpending considerable time
and attention upon handsome black
cat, which she continued to stroke,
Notwithstanding the assertion Of her
family that by so doing she was
charging herself with electricity. FL
nally one evening she decided to 80
for II ride on the electric cars to Be-
thesda. Accordingly, inviting two
of her friends TO accompany her, she
set out for the ride in high spirits.
The trio found places together near
the middle of the ear and had gone
short space beyond the power house,