The San Francisco call., 1909-02-08
OPERATOR
/. STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING
Wireless Telegraph Outfit Dis
abled by Electric Vibrations
and Manager Is Burned
Victim of Shock Rendered Un-
conscious for Ten Minutes
and Is Strangely Scared
Communication With Steamer
Lurline Stopped by Sudden
Crash From Heaven
Similar Flashes Accompany the
Storm of Hail and Rain That
Delays Traffic

Delays Traffic
@AUGHT in the electrical vibra-
I tions emanating from the ap-
paratus of the Massie wireless
company's station near the Cliff house
at 4:3O o'clock yesterday morning, a
flash of lightning sped down the an
tennae and into the receiving appli-
ances, seriously injuring William ].
Smith, western manager for the con-
Germ, who was at the time operating
the mechanism
While Smith was communicating
with the steamer Lurline he was sud-
denly enveloped in the soaring fash
of electricity from the heavens He
was rendered unconscious by the bolt
of Jove's wireless, and burning me-
mentoes of the experience were i'm
printed in the flesh of his arm, chest
and back
Unconscious Ten Minutes
1t was 10 minutes before Smith
recovered consciousness. On his right
arm a fantastic design resembling
tree was burned into the flesh.
The accident of yesterday morning
was the first of its nature that ever
happened to a wireless plant, as IN
the east, where electric storms are Of
frequent occurrence, the wireless ap-
paratus is protected with lightning
defectors. Protective appliances of
that nature will now be placed on the
local apparatus.
Smith and William Worthington
were in the wireless station OF the
Massie company Saturday night and
Sunday morning. After midnight, the
most favorable period for wireless
communication, the two men were ex-
perimenting with their apparatus.
Flash Without Warming
Smith was operating the instru-
ments and had receivers Of the type
used by telephone operators at his
ears. The exterior conditions seemed
natural, but without the slightest
warning the sky, from horizon to
zenith, was filled with a vivid purple
fash Then there was tremendous
roar among the wires at the top of
the tall mast and instantly the little
wireless station was filled with the
same supernatural glare and the wires
spun forth long sparks
0dor of Scared Flesh
When the fash subsided Worthing-
ton found his companion. Smith, in
sensible on the floor of the station.
There was an uncanny odor of scared
flesh. Smith showed clearly the
symptoms of electrocution. Worth
ington telephoned for physician, but
in 10 minutes Smith revived. Assisted
by Worthington, and later by the
doctor, Smith made an examination
of himself He was sore and stiff.
On his right arm he found tattooed
in fantastic shape the form of a tree,
the electro-photograph of some weird
vegetation of the ether. On his chest
was a strangely formed vivid scar, as
if splash of boiling red ink had been
squirted thereon from a celestial
fountain pen; on his back was burn
of yet more uncanny design.
Connections Burned Away
After the operator had been treated
the two men turned their attention
to the apparatus The found that the
receiving appliances had been discon-
nected and the connections burned
away. The outfit was disabled and
could not be repaired during the day.
No messages were handled yesterday.
In discussing his experience last
evening Smith said:
Il was operating the companys sta
ton near the Cliff house about $50
o'clock this morning when I received
the shock. The instant before | was
in communication with the Lurline.
The working conditions were splen-
did and I, with the receivers over my
ears, had just sent message to the