The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-12-29
TOYS OF A STORM
An Experience on a Mountain Top
Alive With Electricity.
MEN GLoWED WITH SPARKS.

The Discharge From the Lightning
Laden Cloud EnveIoped the Party
and Turned It Into Sort Of Human
Pyrotechnie Display.
We had spent week in pathless
aud dense woods, working toward
high mountain in northwestern Mon
tana. At last we left the pack horses
in care of the guide, and three Of us
set out on foot for the peak. We
carried plate camera, provisions,
gun, ice pick, anerod barometer for de-
termining elevation and other neces-
sary articles. For several hours we
climbed over ridges and up ravines
The final ascent was a slope of rot
ten shale. For four and d half hours
we climbed the loose rock, with not
solid bit Of footing Halfway up the
slope we observed that storm cloud
had gathered southwest Of us, not far
above a ridge which we had crossed
early in the morning. Suddenly bolt
Of lightning flashed from the cloud to
the earth. A little later a wreath Of
smoke ascended from the ridge, and
we knew a fire had started from the
lightning.
About half past i we reached the
summit, narrow top but a, few feet
in width, on which was a pile Of rocks
shoulder high, a governLSa ont triangu-
lation monument. Before was preci-
pice, at the foot of which was en- un-
named and unexplored glacier Be-
hind was the rotten shale up which
we had scrambled. To- tie right a
narrow ridge, with bowlders as large
as small house, connectedFour sum
nit with the one beyond.
Against the eastern face Of this sum
init great masses Of snow and ice
formed the head Of the glacier. To
the left was steep, open r:dge.
The glacier was furrowed by hun
dreds Of chasms. The yellow rocks of
the neighboring submits We're flanked
by great masses Of ice on the one side
and by tremendous precipices on the
other. Far away the mountains blend
ed with the blue sky. On the crags
were few mountain goats.
"What is that noiseT' shouted one
of the boys suddenly.
what noise? I do not hear it." !
replied.
"Over at the monument"
'I will go and see."
The monument was not q dozen
steps away. AS approached 1t I
smelled the pungent odor of ozone,
and instantly knew. We had for
gotten the storm cloud gathering near
us to the south. The summit on which
we stood presented to the electric
cloud above sharper point in COM
parison with the earth than can be
made ON any electric machine. The
exchange of electricity between the
charged cloud and the earth began ut
the rock monument, which was lit
tie higher than the place where we
stood. | may have heard the noise; |
do not remember smelled the ozone
and turned toward my companions
with the cry: 1--WE are In an electric
storm! We must run for our livesW
In few seconds the electric dis
charge had increased with wonderful
rapidity. My rife was shooting sparks
from the end Of the barrel, which
were visible in broad daylight. did
not drop the gun; ! threw 1t. My
scalp felt as IL each hair was a bristle
on end pushing against my hat I
could feel the discharge from fingers,
cheeks, nose and chin, and / was
wearing heavy rubber soled shoes,
which should have assisted in making
me a nonconductor.
One OF my companions threw away
his Ice pick, as l had thrown my gun.
The other, seeing my white face-as
he afterward told me--was completely
unneryed and knew not what he was
doing or what to do. Before was the
cliff. Behind was the rock shale, with
no protection. TO the sight was the
|impassable ridge, connecting the sum
mfts and blocked with masses of rock.
There was only one way--to the left.
"Shall we go this way" said one,
extending his hand in that direction.
The extended hand. and fingers were
agIow with sparks shooting outward
from the body, and instantly the arm
was jerked back to the body with a
startled exclamation. Stronger and
stronger grew the charge. 1t seemed
to flll our bodies and cracked from
every projecting rock.
Half dazed, hooked my arm In the
carrying case Of my camera and with
it dashed down the ridge, followed
closely by my two companions We
crawled under big rock and, with
our feet against the ice and our backs
against the solid mountain, felt safe.
Thus we remained for perhaps an
hour Then we began to feel hungry
and in this trying position ate our
| luncheon.
We returned TO the summit. Fortu-
Iately the cloud had passed to the
youth Of us. and we had experienced
only the edge of the manifestation of
electricity. Had the cloud been direct
ly overhead this story would perhaps
never have been written Morton ].
EIrod in Youths Companion.