The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-25
IN AN EXCHANGE.
How" "CentraI" Knows a Thun-
der Storm is Approaching.
Terrifying Experiences In the Ex-
change When One is Raging.

Away of near the line between Con-
necticut and Rhode Island thunder
storm was in progress, The lightning
flashed and the peals OF thunder rattled
On the streets in this city
hundreds OF gayly dressed women passed
to and fro I'm blissful ignorance of the APP
proaching storm which was 10 catch them
unawares. The sun shone brightly over
head and he who might nave
have been laughed at and ridiculed. But
up in the top of the Butler Exchange
Building, In the central Office OF the Iele-
phone Company, sat a girl who had had
ample warning that the storm was ad-
varicing. More than one subscriber was
notified to pull mp his awnings and take
out the office umbrella, and more than
one "party" asked, after look at the sky,
what "central's" authority was for such
statement of the approaching downpour.
But the girl was right and then the doubt
ing ones pestered her until the secret was
divulged.
1t was simple enough, but so are the
most wonderful achievements OF modern
science.
A Storm breaks out in any section of
the State. The electrical disturbance
communicates itself to the telegraph
and telephone wires running through the
locality. The operator on switch board
section over which the storm
Is raging is forewarned OF the
disturbance by the erratic action
Of her board. When the storm breaks
the"drops" on every line running through
the STORM district fall as though IN re-
sharp, clear click of the buzzer behind
the board and the drops are
down. The knowing operator gen
orally refuses to answer any more
calls until the storm has passed, put
sometimes new girl in direct opposition
to the advice OF friends attempts TO run
her board while the storm is raging, and
then is the danger. A bolt of lightning
strikes the wire or comes In
contact with other wires in proximity.
The operator hears a roaring IN her re-
ceiver followed instantly by a report as
though q hundred guns had been hred
close to her head. Then is the time to
shrek and faint away and some do.
The most thrilling of experiences is to
be In the exchange" during a raging
storm. AS the electrical disturbance APP
proaches the city the drops on the several
switchboards begin TO fall. 1t is
pretty sight and one calculated
A few drops falling at the head board
start the excitement, and are followed by
q running line of falling drops along the
entire board like ripples on water. The
storm approaches nearer and nearer until
II bursts. Then there is trouble. Some
OF the operators are terribly afraid
OF lightning, and at the first flash fly
shrieking from their boards. The storm
hovers and RACES directly over the city,
and by the vivid flashes OF lightning the
terrified operators can be seen crouchrng
In corners or running 10 escape
from the room. Suddenly fash OF light
appears running down the whole length
OF the long switchboard. The lightning
has struck wire and found its way into
the Office. Again and again the
line of pale fire flashes
along the board Ieaping in an instant
from one end to the other. Sometimes TO
add to the thrilling experience OF the
spectator wire burns out
and then there is excitement galore.
The board in which enters
the wire which is burnt out smokes as
though devoured by flames, and dense
cloud emenates from the front. The
prompt application ola "plug" in the hole
from whence pours the smoke cuts" out
the burnt line and the smoking stops.
When several lines are burnt out, as fire.
quently happens during a heavy storm,
the electricians have about all they can
attend to in "cutting out" the lines.
DESPITE the universal opinion there Is
not tho slightest danger TO life in the ex-
change during storm providing the op-
orators keep away from the boards. In
fact. all electricians unite in claim
ing that it Is the safest
Of places while tempest is
raging. The thousands OF wires passing
into the Office split up the current and by
the time 1t gets into the exchange it is so
divided as to be practically harmless.