The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-16
CHAPTER Ii.

ON THE EDGE OF THE PRECIPICE.
On Friday evening. March 10. a thun-
der storm of unusual violence broke over
London. 1t was notably peculiar in
certain of its aspects. The weather
was cold and showery. a typical day of
the March equinox. Under. such condi-
tons barometric pressure remains fixed
rather than variable, yet many whose
business or hobby il is to record such
facts observed rapid shrinkage of the
mercury column between the hours of
and Z. A deluge of rain fell for
many minutes, and was followed about
$50 p. M, by a mad turmoil of thun-
der and an astounding electrical dis
play not often witnessed beyond the
confines of the giant mountain ranges
of the world.
So violent and unnerving was the out
burst that the social life of London was
parlyzed for the hour. Theatre par
ties, diners in the fashionable restau-
rants, the-greater millions anxious to
get away from offices and shops, those
eager alike to enter and leave the
charmed circle of the four-mile radius,
were ruthlessly hidden to wait while
the awesome forces of nature made
mad racket in the streets. All horse
flesh was afraid The drivers of cabs
and omnibuses We're unable to make
progress. They had sufficient ado TO
restrain their. maddened animals from
ADDING the havoc of blind charges
through the streets to the general con-
fusion caused by the warning elements.
Telegraph and telephone wires became
not only useless but dangerous, and the
suburban train service was consequent
ly plunged into a tangle from which
1t was not extricated until midnight
SO general was the confusion so
widespread the public alarm, that the
sudden cessation of the uproar al &
O'Clock caused more prayers of thank
fulness to be uttered in the metropolis
than had been heard for many a day.
But worse remained. Thus far the light
ming had been appalling, brilliantly
lurid, but harmless. At 10 o'clock the
storm ragged again. this time without
the preliminary downfall of rain. and
the lightning. though less sensational
I'm appearance. was demoniac In eff
rect, leVying a toll on human lives.
causing fires and general damage to
property, accounts of which filled MANY
columns of the newspapers next morn
ing This second outburst was sue
ceeded by heavy and continuous rain.
At the hour when the theatres emp
tied their diminishing audiences into
the streets London wore it's normal
raln-sodden aspect. It was not until
the following day that people fully I'M
derstood the magnitude and terrifying
results Of the later display
About 1:45. while the first storm was
at its height. a carriage and pair dashed
into fashionable West End square
and pulled up outside mansion cast
In the stereotyped mold of the early
Victorian period. The horses, overfed
and underworked, had been rendered
frantic by the drive through the park
from the further west. Fortunately.
they knew this hating place, or the
coachman would never have succeed
ed In stopping them. AS it was they
sweated white with fear, and the
footman, shouting TO the oc-
cupants of the carriage that
he could not attend TO the
door, ran to their heads after giving a
vigorous tug at the house bell
A boy, tall and thin. and scantily at
tired for much weather. who had taken
shelter In the dark portico of the man
sion. ran forward to offer his services
at the carriage door. A bundle of even
ing papers, covered with a piece of
sacking. somewhat impeded the use of
his left hand. and. as it happened. in
ms right he held a large bun on which
he had just commenced TO dine
Before he could turn the handle the
carriage door opened from the inside
A man sprang out.
Get out of the way" he said i'm
patiently, and the newsboy obeyed.
glad that he had not followed his first
impulse and flung away the bun
A vivid fash of lightning made the
horses rear and plunge.
Look sharp. Eli" cried the stranger
in no more cordial tone. Gather your
wraps and jump out. On a night like
this these nervous brutes-''
peal Of thunder that ratified the
windows interrupted him. The two
animals reared and backed with one
accord. The plucky footman. hanging
onto the crOssbars of the bits, was
lifted off his feet and banged violently
against the pole. He was forced to let
go, and fell. staggering backward some
yards before he dropped. There was a
smash of iron and wood. and the near
hind wheel of the carriage jammed
against the curb. A slight scre;Tf
came from the interior. Certain that
the vehicle would turn over instantly
the man who had alighted slammed the
door and sprang clear. In doing so he
tipped over the newsbOy and fell
heavily on the pavement. The boy
quicker to note that the breaking of
the pole had given momentary re-
spite. rushed into the roadway. throw
ing away both precious bun and stin
more precious stock of unsold papers
He wrenched the other door open.
and shouted:
This way, madam, Quick
Madam" was quick. She sprang
right into his arms, and proved to be
a girl of u or whereabouts. dressed all
in white, and wrapped in an ermine
cloak
Over went the carriage with a fear
full crash. The coachmaB managed to
jump from the box into the roadway
He retained the reins and whip i'm his
grasp, and now. losing his temper,