Digital Extra: The Journal's 175th Anniversary

07.21.2004

1903. Storms collide over Block Island, knock wireless staff off their feet

One of the storms had already left a path of destruction as it headed out of New York state, across Connecticut and toward the ocean.

The second formed far out in the Atlantic and bore down on the southern coast of New England.

It was Aug. 25, 1903, and William J. Smith had a job to do as the skies grew dark over Block Island. He operated the wireless telegraph at the station The Providence Journal had established on Block Island atop Mohegan Bluffs near the Southeast Lighthouse. It was late afternoon, and Smith was waiting for his counterpart on the mainland to begin transmitting the day's news to him.

From the northwest, the first storm, already with a pedigree of havoc, closed in on Block Island. From the southwest, the second storm neared the shore of the tiny island.

Smith grew ever more worried that the array of antenna wires and guy wires attached to his radio would attract lightning if the weather came his way. Still, he stayed at his post.

The two storms collided violently over Block Island, becoming a single fury like none any islander could remember. They met directly above Mohegan Bluffs, directly above the 175-foot wooden pole that held Smith's antenna aloft.

Witnesses in the lighthouse reported seeing "acres of fire" atop the antenna pole.

Smith had just left the radio shack and reached a nearby building, carrying a news dispatch, when he met a printer named Doran. They never knew what hit them.

Neither did editor Thomas Warren Williams, who was standing nearby.

A lightning bolt had struck the cross piece at the top of the antenna pole. Stray bits of electricity had followed every antenna wire and guy wire to the ground.

Smith and Doran were thrown yards from where they stood. They had yellow bands, like ribbons, stretching from ear-to-ear under their jaws.

Williams was tossed onto his back in tall weeds. His skin had turned the color of lead.

The men survived the lightning strike and scrambled more than 100 yards to the lighthouse, where they hid from the storm for an hour.

It was, undoubtedly, the most exciting day in the very brief history of The Block Island Wireless.