Mower County transcript., 1871-12-28
A New Inextinguishable Storm and Dan.
ger Signal Light

It is with pleasure we call public at.
tention to this importent invention
The perfection of their signals has long
been a study of civilized nations.
From earliest historic periods we know
Of the use made by the rudest people
of the fire signal, which is still employ
ed by our Western Indians to give
warning of an eneny's approach. But
the necessities of commerce and science
as we'll as that of war, require the
most reliable and multiform of sig
mails.
The invention of which we speak was
announced in this country a short time
ago, and might be utilized on our
coasts in the ife.boat service, which
has engaged SO much the attention of
the maratime public. This new signal
is most remarkable device, and was
first exhibited in England last April, at
the Presidents meeting of the Royal
Society, when it attracted great attent-
ion. The peculiarities of the signal
light are that it is self-ignitlng when
placed in the water or thrown into the
sea. Contact with water being the on
ly means of lgniting the lamp, it is in
extinguishable when once kindled, and
it is not at all affected by wind or
storm. The light is visible at great
distances, and it is said to be so bril-
liant that photographs may be taken in
it, and yet it is of great duration. Ex-
periments made before a number OF
scientific gentlemen to determine it's
brilllancy as signal show that lamp
nj IN n h,,n ~ 0$x oknn -,
of Primrose Hill emitted light so in
tense that after the signal had been
burning twenty minutes 'tsmall news
paper print could be disti city read at
distance of 70 feet, though the night
was thick and foggy." 1t will burn
over forty minutes. and can therefore
be used for great variety of purposes.
In case Of shipwreck few of the lamps
(Which are very simple and inexpen
sive in their MANUFACTURER can be
thrown upon the sea, and their illum.
lnation of the entire scene, it is claimed
would enable assistance to be promptly
and most efficiently rendered to those
in distress. For the rocket line appar.
atus it is equally valuable, as, bursting
into brilliant fame on touching the
water, it would indicate the exact posit-
ion of the rocket line. As regards it's
attachment to life buoys it would be q
mark to drowning sailor, and in life
boat service it would greatly facilitate
the rescue. Last year we had the hor.
rible lesson of the Hudson River Rail
road disaster to learn. Such signal
as this is described to be, in the hands
of railroad men might prove available
and of greaa utility: and 1t is certainly
worth trial by our marine, railway
and storm-signal service organiza-
tions.
The chemical preparation contained
in the lamp is hard solid, and non-
explosive and not affected by heat, and
the lamp is so made that when used 1t
can be entirely thrown away. A Lon.
don scientific journal says ,"the diff
culties of preparing the chemical com.
pound have been entirely overcome by
the contractors for the manufacture OF
the lamp for the patentee." A little
patient pursuit and trial of such inven-
tions on the part of officials responsible
for the public safety might annually
save hundreds of lives.