The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-14
PLANT STRUCK
BY Lightning and Manager
Knocked Senseless.
EQUIPMENT RUINED

EQUIPMENT | RUINED
The wireless Telegraph Station at
charleston Torn Up by a Flash
of .Iightning-Manager .Ferrtck
Had Taken OF Head Harness
When Bolt Struck.
The Charleston Post says William
Ferrick, manager of the wireless
telegraph plant at Hampton park
was knocked senseless and MS IN
strument ruined Wednesday after
noon by a lightning bolt whlcn
struck his Office at about 4:3o. me
operator barely escaped being killed.
the fact that he had removed his
ear pieces just moment peiore
the bolt hit, saving him from De-
ing electrocuted. 1t will be neces-
sary to rush new instruments froIh
New York to put the wireless sta-
ton here into working order again.
Mr.. Ferrick was sitting at MS
key during the storm OF WEDNESDAY
afternoon, as usual, ready to receive
or send messages to and from the
sea, and through some lntultlVe
feeling, most probably, with the
lightning flashing in lively manner
about him, be took off his head mar
ness for the time being. Hardly nao
he done so, when a binding flash
accompanied by a terrific crash OF
thunder, swept through his office,
and he knew no more until about
twenty minutes later, when he found
himself lying on 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 had remov-
ed from his head just before the
stroke, were burned and useless,
while his tuner, and his magnets
were burned out and the city tele-
phone receiver fused. Fortunately
the Office did not catch on fire with
the operator senseless on the floor.
MIR. Ferrick thinks that the, bolt
crashed through the glass in front
of him and struck his instrument,
putting them out Of Business He
wasa somewhat bruised from the
shock and the violence with Whcln
he was hurled from his chair upon
the floor, but beyond ringing IN
one Of his ears today he is unhlu'rt. ur!l!'Ti
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 will be able to receive and
sand messages again, with his usual
facility.
Further examination Of the plant
failed to show any amage to the
tall mast or to the superstructure
of the wireless equipment. The
whole damage was confined to the
Office and instrument. 1t was a
providential escape from instant
death that the manager had, and II
he had not removed his ear pieces,
he would have been fatally shocked
by the bolt.
The operator at Hampton park
has been on duty here about two
years, coming to Charleston from
New York, and has been in the wire
less service for a longer time, but
he has never before had such close
escape from being killed by light
ming. He declared that it was not
the custom of lightning to- strike
the plants of the company. Because
of the accident to the plant, at about
the time the Arapahoe sustained her
accident off the coast of North Car
olina. no messages were caught from
the wireless instrument on the
steamship, and consequently infor-
nation of the trouble she was in
came through other stations Of the
United Wireless Company.