Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-28
ODE TEXAS WEATHER
SPECT OCULAR DISPLAYS OF WEIRD
BEAUTY AT SHERMAN.

BEAU ~ Al
Sleet Covered Scenery Illuminated b,
Electric Bolts In q Snowstorm-Experi
ence Of q Young Merchant-No One Wa
Killed, and No Building Was Destroyed
Within the last few days the citizen
of Sherman, Tex, have witnessed SOM
weather phenomena and spectacular dis
plays of weird beauty such as n is no
apt to see more than once in a lifetime
The ground was covered with snow
and sleeU. Some rain had fallen, but i
had frozen as it lay on the ground. Th'
trees and the ~farreaching level place
presented a sceneof beauty, but as nigh
came down the scene was gradually shu
out from sight. The wind was blowing
rather strong, and a mixture Of snow
and sleet filled the air.
Such were the conditions about {
O'Clock, when Mr.. A. Fl. Chambers, (
young merchant of the town, left hi
store for the purpose Of walking home
With his oyercoat turned well up abou'
his ears to keep out the sting of tn,
wind driven snow and sleet, he was rap
idly making his way up a hill in tn,
western part of the town. All at once
without warning, something happened
1t looked as if the whole sky above hat
turned loose in one brief instant. In tn,
midst of the binding snow and sleet
dazzling sheet Of flame broke forth
lighting up all the surroundings. Thil
was followed by a most terrific peal o.
thunder. just a few yards ahead of Mr..
Chambers in the middle of the road the
bolt seemed to strike. 1t seemed as if Q
large ball Of purplish blue fire marked
the spot. The roar following was like
the explosion of a key of dynamite.
Stunned by the electric discharge, Mr..
Chambers was struck fat in the middle
of the road and probably lay there un'
conscious for some seconds. When ht
arose, a vast pillar of smoke was ascend
ing from the spot where the bolt hat
struck. The left side Of his face seemed
to have received the greater force of thu
stroke and burned as if actually scorchei
by the fire. Making his way into an ad
jacent house, he rested for some time
and was finally able to make his way
home unassisted.
Beginning with the first terrific bolt,
already mentioned, an almost continu.
u electric display was kept up for a full.
hour. 1t ragged with all the vehemence
of q violent tropical thunderstorm.
The temperature was down close tc
zero, but that had no effect upon the
storm. With each successive flash the
ice laden trees and shrubs cleaned and
glistened as if borne down under 4
weight of rubies and diamonds. The
%prismatic display of colors was a matter
of wonderful beauty.
The electric fire in general had rather
a purplish tint, but as it scintillated
upon the ice laden twigs and branches
the effect produced was that of almost
every conceivable color. 1t was as if the
solors of the aurora borealis had shont
upon a multitude Of prisms and eacf
color had been refracted into a dozer
daintier, more delicate tints. Meantime
the snow and sleet continued flying
through the air, and each particular
flake and crystal CLEANED with the
brightness Of a separate aurora. All
these things the residents Of the town
had the privilege Of seeing-and did see
when they were not too frightened te
notice.
If the display Of the ice laden shrubs
and trees of the town was beautiful,
that or the open prairie was nc less.
Just outside the town there is a region
known as the "Flats," where there is
nothing to obstruct the sight as far out
Is the horizon. All this level country
was covered with snow, sleet and frozen
rain. Here the Spectacular display was
perhaps at it's greatest. The almost in
terminable miles Of white covered
prairie were lighted up with a radiance
that was absolutely dazzling and with q
variety Of colors that was absolutely in
describable. One peculiar effect was
that the element Of distance seemed al
most entirely lost. Houses and other
comparatively small objects that were
really miles away doomed up as if only
= few rods off. The purplish light made
every detail wonderfully distinct.
While the lightning was busy giving
spectacular displays to the folks out
doors it was not neglecting the larger
number who were in their houses. At
n house a small part Of the electric
fluid came down the chimney and gave
a severe shock to one member Of the
family who was cozily seated in an arm.
chair reading, with his feet on the fend.
or Of the stove. At another place the
electricity seemed to center at the sup.
per table and played on the points Of the
knives and forks.
Several telephones were burned out,
and telephone bells were kept ringing
all over town. A remarkable feature
about this display was that, while sew.
eral people were severely shocked and
stunned and considerable damage wal
done in a minor way, no n wal killed
and no building was demolished. AL
though the storm was in point Of sever
ity equal to the worst that ever ragged in
this section in the spring O summer
which ia saying a good deal-the bolts
seemed to have the popularity Of strik.
ing nowhere in particular, but every.
where in general.
Some Of the citizens Of Sherman claim
to be the only people in the world who
haua auor had fha nriuilaua Of hainQ