ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 405 
Pike's Peak prevailed. A queer hissing sound issued from the telegraph line, the 
wind-vane post and other posts standing in a deep snow-drift near by. I stepped 
out to view but was not standing in the snow-drift long when the same buzzing 
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 effect 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 put-_ 
ting two thicknesses of writing paper in this space, it was scorched and perforated 
by numerous holes. By accident I completed the circuit with both hands when 
I received a shock that set me back on the floor. I then concluded I had had 
enough of experimenting. 
June 29. — Atmospheric electricity was very intense. At 11:19 A. M. a ball 
passed through the arrestor with a report exceeding that of a rifle and threw 
sparks all over the office. It was followed in an instant by terrific thunder. The 
suddenness and violence of the shock stunned me so that it was a little while 
before I could realize what had happened. 
ABSTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. EDMUND DAVIS FOR 1 879. 
July 10. — Hail storm with terrific thunder and lightning which constantly 
jumped from the telegraph instrument. On stepping to the door at 6 P. M. the 
assistant stated that he felt a peculiar sensation about his body, similar to that of 
an awakening limb after being benumbed, that his hair stood straight out from 
his head and served to produce a pecuhar singing noise like that of burning ever- 
greens. The telegraph line and all metallic instruments produced a noise like 
that of swarming bees. When he felt on his hat the prickly sensation became so 
intense that he was compelled to remove it, his forehead smarting as though it 
had been burned, for fully three hours after. At 7 P. M. the electric storm had 
ceased. 
August 12. — At 5:40 P. M. a bolt of lightning went through the lightning 
arrestor with the report of a rifle, blowing a ball of fire across the room against 
the stove and tin-sheeting. 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 uncomfortable place during a storm, and left. Their dog, 
however, was far in advance seeking shelter outside. Mr, Wade declared that the 
lightning struck him in his feet and legs. At 6:35 P. M. the lightning struck the 
wire and building at the north and where the wires come through the window 
and lightning arrestor with a crash equal to any forty-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 and the out- 
side pane of glass broken ; another pane was coated with melted copper. The 
anemometer wires were also burned up and the dial of the anemometer burned 
and blown to pieces. A new anemometer was immediately put up, and within 
VII— 26 
