The Ravalli Republican., 1898-10-19
SAVED by \ FLASH.

y
take these wonderful photographs
OF lightning flashes that are printed
in The Strand Magazine? They don t
know when a flash is coming and
can't make it stay still while they
photograph it, can they?'
"Not likely l luughingly re-
piled. 1.-The lightning takes itself.
If there is thunderstorm at night,
all that is necessary is to put SEN
sitive plate in the camera, uncover
the lens and point it at the sky,
when the next flash Of lightning
will record itself upon the plato,
which must then be developed in
the usual way
"Is that all2" returned Donald
"How very easyl Couldn't we take
somei Do let us try"
"All right replied, "but first
Of all we must wait for thunder
storm. So when there is another at
night get your Photographic traps
ready, and we'll see what We can
do -...-
Donald and l were enthusiastic
cyclists, he being one OF several
years standing, but only since we
came to live here in Woodford, on
the borders Of the New forest, as
found it very convenient to ride to
the railway station-five miles away
or to Salisbury or southampton,
as our village lies midway on the
high road between those towns.
Charmed by the lovely forest
scenery, had lately practiced the
fascinating science Of photography,
and thereby secured many a beauti-
full seenerof. woodland glade Don
aid, too,, soon waxed enthusiastic
oyer It and, many cyclophoto-
graphic day jlidaye spend securing
pictures of the exquisite scenes that
abound around our home.
The marvellous photos of light
ming flashes that appeared in the
Strand had excited Donald's wonder
and curiosity leading to the con
versation with which this story
commences. .-......
We had not long to wait for ;
thunderstorm, for Oh that very
night ragged one Of exceptional vic
lence It began about II o'clock
and Donald, who. had retired to bee
some time before, burst into IN,
room fully dressed and shouted:
Come on, father. There's a tre
mendous thunderstorm coming up
and such flashes of lightning! In
off to the dark room to put some
plates in the Sides so get the cam
era ready The front bedroom win
dow is the best place to expos
from"
Here let me state that our hous
stands about ten feet from the road
side, and the view from our from
windows comprises theroad and til
common opposite5 us, a small piec
Of waste land partly surrounded b.
the noble trees Of the New forest.
By tho time that l had made tn
necessary arrang genlents at the VIII
dow, Donald rejoined me, bringin
three double dark slides loaded wit
the sensitive plates. 1--WE ought
get at least one successful photo OF
of this lot" said he.
Soon the storm, which had graz
ually boen drawing nearer, bur:
over us with terrible fury, the ligh
ming flashing with amazing brillia,
cy, the thunder rolling with deafe1
ing roars One by one the plate
were exposed under. conditions tn;
justified the expectations of goc
results, and Donald was in hie
glee Just as i was about to expo
the sixth and" last plate he sai'
why don't you take flashlig
photo of the common with that on
illuminated by the celestial e]ectr
light, you know? Point the came
toward the center Of the commo
just for fun I'd like to soy how
comes out.
I'acted upon bis suggestion, al
no sooner had Iigot@ the Gamers,
position than flash Of hghtni1a
SO vivid and brilliant IN its intensi
as to momentarily blind ts a
wiring from us aftatso1ne and ter
fed "Ohl'' imprinted the scene
the sensitive plate.
I'm glad that's the last plate
said Donald when the deafeni
peal Of thunder allowed him
make himself heard, "for shot
not care to stand at tho wind'
during: another such fash as tn
Shall We develop the plates
night4"
mot it'1iknow it, l'replied. e
OF to bed now, and we II do tn
the first thing iii the morning
But; wi6 didn't, for we were aw
eneda early by violent ringing
the bell, and upon going down
my dressing gown and opening
door I beheld the village consta
with white, haggard face. on VIII
fear was strongly marked in ev'
line.
"Oh, sir" he gasped, will ,
come over on the common with L
- oG IT,,