404 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
and was so intense at times as to render our position exceedingly dangerous. 
The wires were cut out but violent sparks would still jump six inches between the 
disconnected wires. One violent discharge seemed to have occurred in the 
chimney, for a terrible commotion was caused in the soot and ashes. 
May 24. — At 8 P. M., snow and severe electricity, very intense for an hour. 
Wires cut out and parted, and a vivid glaring was continuous in the windows. 
A lamp set in the north window would, with its flame, cast a shadow on the 
opposite wall for several seconds. 
May 26.« — Heavy clouds most of the day with intense electricity at times. 
June 3. — Heavy lower clouds in evening. Air appeared to be highly charged 
with electricity. 
June 5. — Snow from 1:30 P. M. to 2:30 P. M. being attended by severe 
electricity. 
June 15. — Line worked hard on account of intense electricity and the storms 
below the summit. 
June 25. — Hail from 3 to 4 P. M. Severe electricity. Wires had to be cut 
out and great danger was felt in the office. Intense electricity again in the even- 
ing from storms below the summit. 
July 2. — Sleet from 2:55 P. M. to 7 P. M. with intense electricity. At 3:20 
P. M. a violent lightning explosion occurred in room near stove, scattering the 
wood and knocking down the stove-pipe. 
ABSTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. RUFUS CHOATE FOR 1 87 9. 
April 2. — Cloudy. Line working well. Can hear the lower station but can- 
not break. 
April 10. — Line' heavily charged with a ground current, and it was with 
difficulty that signals were got off. The current, at times, was entirely reversed. 
April 12, — Snow storm. Electricity intense. Very brilliant sparks were 
jumping from the lightning arrestor all the evening, 
April 23, — Telegraph line affected during the day by atmospheric electricity. 
April 25, — Clear and fair. Line worked all right but could not raise the 
lower office by any means. It works through as I cut off the battery at this end 
and found a current strong enough to work the relay, 
April 26, — Line works all right but cannot, by any means, break the lower 
office. 
May 27. — Electricity on the wire interrupted the circuit at sunset. Sparks 
have been flying from the lightning arrestor during afternoon and evening, 
ABSTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR, JAMES K. SWEENY FOR 1879, 
June 5. — Thunderstorms around near the Peak, Telegraph Hne affected by 
electricity. 
June 16. — At 12:40 P. M. sleet, and at i:io P, M. thunder, but only a few 
peals were heard when it gave way to a strong, steady current over the wire, and 
from 1:15 to 1:35 P. M. one of those electric storms peculiar and common to 
