July 13, 1882] 



NATURE 



261 



peared to pass through the storeroom and wood-shed in 

 which he was working, leaving behind a strong sulphurous 

 smell. 



July 13, 1876. — Singing on the wire. It also seemed to 

 come from the instrument shelter and the house, as well as 

 from the wire. Thunder loud and continuous during the 

 afternoon. 



July 23, 1S76. — The anemometer stopped working on account 

 of the electric storm. Privates Straine and O'Keefe were 

 shocked while trying to fix it, so that they had to give it up 

 until the storm had subsided sornew hat. 



August 18, 1S76. — A beautiful phenomenon was observed by 

 myself, Private Greenwell, and four visitors. The peculiar 

 singing noise (or sizzing noise) was heard again, always before 

 in day, but this time at night, but the line for an eighth of a 

 mile was distinctly outlined in brilliant light which was thrown 

 out from the wire in beautiful scintillations. Near us we could 

 observe these little jets of flame very plainly. They were in- 

 variably in the shape of a quadrant, and the rays concentrated at 

 the surface of the line in a small mass about the size of a currant, 

 which had a bluish tinge. These little quadrants of light were 

 constantly jumping from one point of the line to another, now 

 pointing in one direction then in another. There was no heat to 

 this light, and when I touched the wire I could only feel the 

 slightest tingling sensation. Not only was the wire outlined in 

 this manner, but every exposed metallic point and surface was 

 similarly tipped or covered. The cups of the anemometer 

 appeared as four balls of fire revolving slowly round a common 

 centre. The wind vane was outlined with the same phos- 

 phorescent light, and one of the visitors was very much alarmed 

 by sparks, which were plainly visible in his hair, though none 

 appeared in ours. At the time of this phenomena snow was 

 falling. 



March 27, 1877. — Singing noise heard upon the wire to- 

 day. 



May 12, 1877. — Hailstorm, accompanied by intense electricity. 

 May 24, 1877. — Sergeant Hobbs and Private Greenwell 

 received severe shocks during the day. 



August 6, 1877. — Intense electricity ; all metal objects were 

 tipped with sparks. 



November 25, 1S77. — Snow-storm all day attended by intense 

 electiicity, which could be heard crackling in a person's hair 

 continuously, although no reports of thunder were heard. 



December 26, 1877. — The atmospheric electricity was very 

 intense during the day, and at times would crackle on various 

 objects in the room. 



January 25, 1S78. — Several thunderstorms occurred in the 

 surrounding parks and gulches. The electricity on the summit 

 was very intense, causing a continuous snapping of the lightning 

 arrester. 



May 12, 187S. — A snow-storm commenced during the night, 

 and at I p.m. was drifting furiously by a rising gale. The elec- 

 tricity varied with wind-gusts, and was so intense at times as to 

 render our position exceedingly dangerous. The telegraph wires 

 were cut out, but violent sparks would still jump six inches 

 between the disconnected windows. One violent discharge 

 seemed to have occurred in the chimney, for a terrible commo- 

 tion was caused in the soot and ashes. 



May 24, 1S7S. — At 8 p.m. snow commenced, attended with 

 severe electricity, lasting for an hour. The wires had to be cut 

 out and parted, and a vivid glaring was continuous in the win- 

 dows. A lamp set in the north window would, with its flame, 

 cast a shadow on the opposite wall for several seconds. 



July 1, 187S. — During afternoon sleet fell, accompanied by 

 intense electricity. At 3.20 a violent explosion occurred in the 

 room, near the stove, scattering the wood and knocking down 

 the stove-pipe. 



April io, 1879. — The telegraph wire heavily charged with a 

 ground current of electricity this evening, and it was with diffi- 

 culty that signal was transmitted. The current at times was 

 entirely reversed. 



June 16, 1S79.— Light sleet, accompanied by thunder. Only 

 a few peals were heard, when it gave way to a strong steady 

 current over the wire, and for twenty minutes one of those elec- 

 tric storms peculiar and common to Pike's Peak prevailed. A 

 queer hissing sound from the telegraph line, the wind-vane post, 

 and other posts standing in a deep snow-drift nearby. I stepped 

 out to view the phenomenon, but was not standing in the snow- 

 drift long, when the same buzz started from the top of my head, 

 my hair became restless, and feeling a strange creeping sensation 



all over my body, I made quick steps for the station ; once 

 inside upon the dry floor, the effects soon left me. After getting 

 inside I opened the telegraph key, and found a continuous 

 bright spark passing between the key and the anvil, even when 

 they were separated one-eighth of an inch ; and by putting two 

 thicknesses of writing-paper in this space, it was scorched, and 

 perforated by numerous burnt holes. By accident I completed 

 the circuit with both hands, when I received a shock that sent 

 me back on the floor. 



June 29, 1879. — Thunder-storm (very severe), 1 1. 10 to II.30 

 a.m., duriug which time a bolt passed through the arrester with 

 a report exceeding that of a rifle, and threw sparks all over the 

 office. The suddenness and violence of the shock stunned me, 

 so that it was a little while before I could realise what had 

 happened. 



August 11, 1879. — During passage of a thunder-storm over 

 the Peak a great amount of atmospheric electricity was 

 manifested. 



August 12, 1879. — Heavy snow and sleet began falling at 5.3° 

 p.m. ; at 5.40 p.m. a ball of lightning went through the arrester 

 with the report of a rifle, throwing a ball of fire across the room 

 against the stove and tin sheathing ; the wood-packers, Messrs. 

 Wade and McDonald, had taken refuge in the station for a few 

 minutes, but concluded immediately that this was rather an un- 

 comfortable place during a storm, and left immediately ; their dog 

 however was far in advance in seeking shelter outside. Mr. 

 Wade declared that the lightning struck him in his feet and legs. 

 At 6 p.m. the lightning struck the wire and building at the north 

 end, w here the wires come through the window and arrester with 

 a crash equal to any 40-pounder. It burned every one of the 

 four wires coming in at the window into small pieces, throwing 

 them with great force in every direction, and filled the room with 

 smoke from the burned gutta-percha insulation ; the window- 

 sash was splintered on the outside, one pane of glass broken, 

 and another coated w ith melted copper. The anemometer wires 

 were also burned up and the dial of the anemometer burned 

 and blown to pieces. Private Sweeny was about deaf for some 

 time afterwards. One piece of the wire was thrown with such 

 force that when it struck the barometer three feet distant it was 

 wound around it, without, however, doing any damage to the 

 barometer. 



July 2, 1880. — Line worked poorly on account of storm, each 

 flash of lightning causing the instrument to be thrown out of 

 adjustment ; the signals at midnight were got off with great 

 difficulty. 



July 19, 1880. — Atmospheric electricity quite prevalent during 

 the evening. 



July 21, 1S80. — Hail in afternoon and night, accompanied by 

 heavy flashes of lightning which played around the arrester, and 

 exploded with great force. 



July 23, 1S80. — Hail, rain and snow during the day; ended 

 at 5.40 p.m. Intense ground currents during prevalence of 

 storm. 



June 23, 1881. — A light fall of hail, accompanied by terrific 

 flashes of lightning, which snapped on the lightning arrester, 

 and exploded with great violence. 



July 4, 18S1.— During the progress of the rain-storm it was 

 accompanied by the heaviest discharges of lightning and thunder 

 that I ever witnessed in all my experience at this station. The 

 lightning snapped on the arrester and exploded with great 

 violence in the office. Several times during the evening I was 

 certain that the station building would be struck and demolished, 

 as the lightning was almost continuous. 



August 21, 1881. — Heavy hail began falling at 12.30 p.m., 

 continued at intervals until 4.15 p.m., when it ceased. The 

 hail w as accompanied with the heaviest discharges of lightning 

 that I ever witnessed in all my experience at this station. It 

 was impossible to remain in the office during the progress of the 

 hailstorm, as the lightning was almost continuous, and snapped 

 and exploded in all directions, so that I was compelled to retreat 

 to the kitchen for safety. The south-west portion of the station - 

 building was struck by lightning, but no damage of any con- 

 sequence was done, nor was the station-building impaired by the 

 shock. The lightning arrester and ground wires were badly 

 damaged, but the worst feature of the storms was the fact that 

 both the station and extra barometers were also struck, and the 

 cisterns of both cracked. 



During the storm a shepherd was killed by lightning, and 

 when found was stripped of his clothing and boots ; he had 

 taken refuge under a tree. 



