New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-28
THE MAJOR DODGED THE LIGHTNING
ne TELLS OF AN INGENIOUS GERMANS GREAT
INVENTION.
Prom The San Francisco Call

HE TELLS OF AN INGENIOUS GERMANs "iEA4
INVENTION.
Prom The San Francisco Call
Il see" said Majo- BIazen as he took a CIGAR
out Of my vest pocket ana proceeaeq poD 10
becoming more frequent every year. o,,..,
We were sitting In me Dolby OF InG OcG igna
his knee, watch he had been reading prior 10 my
| merely nodded knowing that my silence was
more likely to draw him into conversation tAan my
He paffed vigorously my cigar for few min
utes and then began: , 1910 ,.oo,,o,,
Yes Sir; the deaths are becoming more irequent
every year. and wonder thst no on 40 cn1dc-or
try has ever invented patent IghLnS 80 neoni.
that could be carried about the person oy people
living In the districts where electrical storms arc
30 frequent" - o.i,, % Az
two yards from his feet He ga not M IT, ou' 'No
Talk about Yankee ingenuity, ne sald presehYii,
why know a German who beai US nolo" ;ru ne
was q scientist OF the FIRST water ana heI ruHh
full OF diplomas and all that sort Of thing met
him ou, In Buenos Ayres some years aeo,, rennen;
you know, electrical storms are yer! frequent
/ was not aware OF any such thing but nodded
The Major chewed piece off his cigar and pasted
Yes sir; storms are very frequent out there
and one year remember that deaths iro" "e"'
coughed, but the Majors eyes were fxed on.th
ceiling ana he DID not near me: ,,,,., came I'm 70
plcted n portable lightning conductor "ii.Ii
make his fortune, and which would soon De OWneIi
by every resident OF Buenos AyTes. lie snoWeo
three small rods. fitting into one an0ther ne
one OF these was 10 be attached by a strap 70 INC
wearer's back: the lower would then reach ,the
ground the top would project some rect INTO
the air. and the electrical current would De Carried
directly into the earth. j may add that snaii
wheel attached 10 the bottom rod. enabling IT 70
glide over the ground easily and not retard the
wearer's movements. HIS object in coming 10 me
was 10 request me TO make trial with his patent
before he finally put II on the market"
The Majors cigar had gone out. and he pro-
ceeded to light It,
satisfied himself with few pufs merely waved
my hand . 81.
he continued. "and | agreed be hand
and risk my life for his especial benefit. Al
o'clock repaired the place OF meeting, lonely
plaza on the outskirts OF the city and Just the
storm began TO break took the three rods from
him and began 10 adjust them. Peals upon
peals Of thunder broke over the city, and the light
ming flashed every few seconds. 1t was forked
lightning. TOO. sir. and ! assure you i kept me
Fortunately" continued the Major. looking at his
agile. A less agile person would have been struck
repeatedly. but come OF fine old stock, sir"
He eyed me he-cely, and bowed. FINALLY ]
succeeded in adjusting the three rods. attached
them 20 my middle. and. upon my honor. sir, the
lightning slid down that rod In front OF me for
two hours In one solid streak The German scien-
list made fortune but he died Of apoplexy shortly
efterward Shall we drink sr?" he continued, as
he took my arm. We did. and paid for them.