The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-08-18
PLANT STRUCK
By Lightning and Manager
knoeked Ssnsslsss.
EQUIP pMENT RUINED
Tho Wireless Telegraph Station at
Cha-sesson Torn Up By = Flash
OF Observation-Disclosures .Ferrtck
Fad Taken OF Head Harness
When Bolt Struck.

The Charleston Post says William
J. Ferrick. manager 0: the wireless
telegraph plant At Hampton park
wss knocked senseless and his IN
struneat ruined Wednesday after
noon by 3 lightning bolt which
struck his once at about 4:Sc. The
operator barely escaped being killed.
the fact tha, he had removed his
ear pieces just a moment before
tho ocl. hit. saving him from be-
ing eleetrocuted. II will be neces-
sary to rush new instruments from
New York TO put the wireless sta
ton here into working order again
Ir. Ee.ricE vas sitting at his
key during the storm Of "Wednesday
afternoon. as usual. ready to receive
or send messages to and from the
sea, anG through some !atu!t!re
feeling. nost probably. with the
nghtaing flashing in lively manner
about him, he took OF his head har-
ness for the time being. Hardly had
ae done 50. when a binding fash
accompanied BY terrific crash OF
thunder. swept through his ONCE.
and he knew no more until about
twenty minutes later. when he found
himself lying OF his back half way
into his sleeping room. fifteen feet
away. The large glass Of the win
dow IN front Of his key was smash
ed. and investigation showed that
his ear-pieces, which he mad renov-
ed from his head just before the
stroke. were burned and useless.
while his tuner. and his magnets
were burned oat and the city tele-
phone receiver fused. Fortunately
the once did rot catch On Are with
the operator senseless on the floor.
Mr.. Eerr:ck thinks tha: the oois
crashed through the glass in front
OF him and struck his instrument.
putting them out OF business he
was somewhat bruised from the
shock and the violence with wheih
he was hurled from his chair upon
tho aoor. bat beyond ringing n
one Of his ears today he IS unsurt.
A rush order has been sent by
the wireless manager to New York
for new equipment his plant here.
and he thinks that by early next
week he win be able to receive and
sand messages again. with his usual
facility.
Further examination Of the plant
failed to show any damage to the
tall mast Or to the superstructure
Of the wireless equipment The
whole damage was confined to the
once and instrument. It was
p,ovideatiai escape from instant
death that the manager had, and Il
he had no. removed his ca: pieces.
he would have been fatally shocked
by the bolt
The operator az hampton p1EA
has been oc duty here about two
years. coming to Charleston from
New York. and has been in the wire
less service for longer time. but
he has never before had such q close
escape from being killed by light
ming. he declared that It was not
tho custom Of lightning to strike
the plants Of the company. Because
Of the accident to the plant. at about
the time the Arapshoe sustained her
accident OF the coast OF North Car
ol.na. no messages were caught from
the wireless instrument oa the
steamship. and consequently !nsoF-
nation OF the trouble she was IN
came through other stations Of the
United Wireless Company.