The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-03-11
DISSECTION OF A THUNDER CLOUD

Some OF tho most surprising results yet
known to the scientific world, are related in
recent article in the British Quarterly. on
Andrew Crosse, the electrician. Our read
erS will thank us for calling their attention
to the following curious narration:
ain visiting his scat at Broonhcld. the
splendid apparatus he employed for extract
ing electricity from the atmosphere, would
ilrst arrest the attention. Fancy tho electric
telegraph of our railways ske,ching across
forest, with its posts mounted on the tops
OF the highest trees and the reader will be
enabled to form some idea Of the scenes in
Mr. Crosses park.
Far overhead ran wires supported by
poles which rose from the SUBMITS of the
trees, and were provided with an insulating
arrangement to prevent tho dispersion of
the fluid. The duty of these wires was to
fetch in the electricity Of the clouds and tho
f"g>, SO that j: might be examined at ease
by the owner Of the mansion. Within the
building there was a large room with an
archc'i roof originally intended for music
hall, but now occupied by the voItaic bat
tercs, salvanic piles, electrical jars and 9TH
or implements Of philosophy. 1t was a
place where strange processes were in pro-
Sress, and where subtle streams Of fluid,
flowing in silent but ccasclcss currents, were
cmp1'ycd in pIing up little mineral fabrics,
and compelling the obcdcnt atoms to FASH
ion themselves into exquisite forms of crys-
! tai architecture. But it was place also
where the same element might he seen in
its pride, and where it might also be heard
in its wrath; for all those wires could be
made to pour their supplies into large
brass conductor, fixed and insulated on Ia
bic in the organ gallery, and tittingly iu-
scribcd with the words, Noli me taugcre.
Not tar from this conductor was another
brass ball forming the extremity of metal
llc arrangement by which the electricity
might be conveyed out Of the building into
The moist ground around. There was q
contrvance, too, by which the current, when
It's strength became perilously great, or
when its services were not required, might
be turned of altogether, and discharged in
to the soil without entering the apartment.
but II the magician wished to observe the
play of the fiery clement, it was easy to in
crease or diminish the distance between the
two brass knobs, and thus to regulate the
charge to be received by the huge battery
employed. Then, if there were any elec-
tricity astir in tho atmosphere, those balls
would he sure to reveal the fact, and a sue
cesson of sparks and explosions, augment.
ING in rapidity rs the commotion increased
would enable tho observer to see into tho
storm us it were, and to listen to its doines
related in its own voice.
The results were surprising. With this
noble searching apparatus, Mr.. Crosse sue
ceeded i'll obtaining All insight into the COM
position of thunder. cloud, such as no one
else had done before him. Imagine dense
mass of vapor approaching the electrical OBJ
scrvatory on a.sultry summers day. No
sooner does its margin arrive overhead the
exploring wire than the brass balls begin to
announce the commencement Of the fray.
4 spark is seen, a detonalion heard, and
these herads Of the tempests are followed
by a series of mimic flashes and explosions
somewhat slowly delivered, for they may
not perhaps exceed nine or ten during the
first minute of the convusion. Then there
is pause, but after while the apparatus
gives forth another set of sparks and snap
pings, equal also in force to those which
have just been exhibited, but differing in
this particular-that if the first consisted of
negative electricity, the second will consist
of the contrary description. Another pause.
takes place, and then the sparks begin to
leap from ball to ball, but with greater ra-
pidity than before; these are discharges of
negative electricity, rs at the outset, and
when they have passed, a similar set of pos.
tive eruptions invariably ensues. Again
the apparatus becomes silent, but it is only
for Il short interval. A more numerous and
brilliant succession Of flashes soon announce
that another zone of negative vapor is sweep
ing aloft, to be followed after brief respite
by corresponding zone of positive electric
ity. The intervals Of repose now grow
or'ear, and at length stream Of fire is seen
D,tf from one conductor to the other.
en- only by the change from one kind
id to its opposite. When. the center