Smoke under the dashboard

[Sledge]

Today, while driving back from an outing, we ran into some light rain. I used the wipers once or twice for one stroke, then turned them on and after 4 or 5 strokes the wipers quit. Naturally, with the blades in the most vision-blocking position. Then I noticed the volt meter at 0. It had been showing 14 to 14.5 volts depending on electrical load (single-wire Powermaster 100-amp alternator). I turned the wiper switch off. I stopped for gas, checked the wiper fuse, it was still good but I changed it with a new one anyway, and tried it again. Still no wiper motion, and no voltage indications. I removed the wipers to get them out of my direct view. and turned the wiper switch off.

The alternator appeared to be working still as the car would continue to run after turning off the battery switch. So, we continued homeward (we were about 60 miles out) when smoke started coming out from under the panel (back when I was flying airplanes for a living this wasn't considered a good sign). After cutting across three lanes of heavy freeway traffic I was able to get the car off the road and the electrics turned off. The smoke dissipated. I noticed the wiper switch was hot, so I disconnected the wiper switch at the connector. The switch itself is wrapped in tape, looks like it has been modified and has 5 wires coming out the back (I bought the car new from California Cobra and haven't touched this switch) going to the connector. No more smoke, but still no more volt meter indications.

Any ideas on how a wiper switch (or motor) could fail, generate smoke, and not open the fuse? Any way to check if my volt meter is busted or if there is a circuit problem somewhere?

Thanks for any and all help. I'll be on the road for the next few days and plan to call Reg or Frank when I get a chance.

Cheers