Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-09

To the uninitiated the most danger
GUS spot during a thunder storm is a
telegraph office, but statistics will sub
stantiate the fact that no place is
safer" said an old telegrapher.
Between the manufactured and
natural electricity" he continued,
there appears, from close observation,
to be a sort of affection, and under
&C yer of the slightest storms, mutual
exchanges of condolences are usually
INDUCED in by them. Modern devices,
of course, have brought about this
state of affairs, but the most persistent
assurances cannot convince the timid
of this fact.
Seldom, indeed, will the veteran
telegrapher lift his hand from the tele-
graph key upon which he is spelling
out the mystic signs of the Morse
alphabet upon the approach or prog
ress of the heaviest storms, while the
young aspirant for telegraphic fame
will sit through a storm with beating
heart rather than show the white
feather to his companions by desert
ing his post.
1t frequently occurs that the dense
humidity prevailing just previous to
a storm, coupled with a heavy down
pour OF rain, will entice the strongest
electrical currents from the wires, and
for the time being kills their useful
ness. 1t is during one of these storms
that the electric waves are felt coming
end going, and what danger there is
is then most imminent. It was during
one OF these lulls in business, up in
the operating room of the Western
Union telegraph office recently, that
several experts gathered around the
switchboard and watched the lightning
come into the room over the numerous
switch off on the ground wire. By
actual count 76 loud reports were
heard and the flashes seen some of
them so heavy that the veterans would
Lnthinkingly duck their heads.
L recall d humorous story that had
for its victim a well known telegrapher
named Borgardus. 'Bogy' as he is
called for short, is known in the tele-
graph profession from Boston to San
Francisco and from New Orleans to
Toronto, Canada. He possessed row
Jig disposition a love for good old
Bourbon whisky and a mind that was
a blank to the value of money AL
though 'Bogy' at one time was one of
the finest operators in the business
these three defects kept him always on
the tramp and from attaining any posi-
ton of trust or prominence. Poor
'Rogy' is now in a Chicago hospital
rounding up career that should have
been bright one.
The following occurred when 'Bogy'
was in his prime. He had recently
teen fired from the New York offices,
and for bread and butter had drifted
on to a railroad centering in Pittsburg
to get a new start. He was always
careful of his personal appearance,
and while he could shave himself, the
cutting of his own hair was an impos-
sibility. Pittsburg, some 80 miles from
the little station where he was work
ng, was the nearest place wherein
he could have the tonsorial feat per-
formed. To go to the city meant an
other spree and consequent discharge,
and 'Bogy' knew this only too we'll.
But his hair grew, the weather became
hot and he fretted and fumed. The
comments of the railroad men did not
add to his comfort.
Late one afternoon after very hot
day a thunder storm of remarkable
intensity came up, and the lightning
played hide and seek among the re-
lays, saunders and switchboard in
'Bogy's' little 10X10 office. Every mo-
ment the storm increased in intensity,
and the electric display was grandly
sublime. AS the cracks of the bolts Oh
the switchboard became more frequent
md the flashes more luminous 'Bogy,'
not bit frightened, concluded to put
the cut-out plug in the switchboard
and thereby save his instruments from
burning out in case the lightning be-
came too strong.
ION the instant he applied the plug
a bolt of lightning struck telegraph
pole about so feet from the Office, and
the surplus electricity came in the
switchboard over the wire, and
'Bogy's' head was wrapped in flame.
The shock threw him on the floor,
and for a minute or so stunned him.
Shaking himself together, he arose to
his feet and feeling no main he con-
graduated himself upon his lucky es-
cape. There was a peculiar odor in
the little room that 'Bogy' could not
clearly account for, but concluded it
came from the burned silk and wax
that made up the covering of the Office
wires.
" 'Bogy' had just succeeded in get
ting his Office to rights and had re-
turned tc it, after making a temper
airy connection at the pole where the
lightning struck, when a train drew
up for orders.
'Jerusalem,' shouted the conduc-
cor, as he caught sight of 'Bogy'.
Where's your hair?'
-" 'Bogy.' in alright, clapped his
hands to his head and, with startled
ejaculation, rushed for the little mirror
in rear corner of the office. One
look was enough. 'Bogy hadn't as
much hair as a month-old baby, and,
strange to relate. the electric fame
had not injured his scalp in the least
The knock-down blow the lightning