The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-01
AN INTERESTING EXHIBITION TO-
NIGHT.

We had the pleasure of meeting, last even
ing, Prof. V. Kiedowski, a gentleman of rare
scientific attainments, who is stopping tor
short time at the St. Charles Hotel. The pro-
fessor has been a very extensive traveller,
and has won for himself much distinction all
over Europe by his wonderful discoveries in
the electric science, and his inventions and
Improvements in the electromagnetic light.
He is gentleman OF fine presence, with
bearing dignified and at the same time genial,
During a somewhat extended conversation
he was pleased to explain to the reporter
some OF his improvements, and particularly
one which he intends to exhibit this evening.
Without using technical language, he spoke
Of the first practical application of electricity
as means Of illumination by Dr. Watson in
England in 1848, and the subsequent improve
ments wrought upon the original.
This novel invention. at the first expert
ment, gave light of 1900 wax candles at 200
feet distance, and was used at sinking the
towers Of Westminster bridge. The means
are simple. Two points Of carbon, half an
inch apart, are connected with powerful
Daniels battery, one point with the positive
pole, the other with the negative. When an
electric current Is induced, q dazzling light
bursts from the point between the two pieces
of carbon that almost rivals the sun.
The improvement Of Prof. Kiedowsk is the
application of this principle to submarine
illumination. Fixed in large glass water
tight globes, about two feet six inches in diane
ter, are two pieces Of carbon connected by an
insulated cable with battery, either on shore
or on a vessel. These globes are sunk about
100 feet apart to the bottom, and the battery
applied. Immediately the sea or river sur
rounding the illuminators Is lit up as If on fire,
and the minutest objects can be discerned.
He has employed these means successfully
at sebastopol in the raising Of sunken vessels
and also at Revel on the Baltic
At the request of the civil engineers of the
city he has consented to exhibit tonight
his invention, and has nearly all day been
engaged on the river, between the head of
Canal street and the French Market, in lay
ing his globes, with the cables attached. They
run in line about one hundred feet from
Shore and will illuminate one hundred feet on
either side Of them. By noon to-day he ex-
poets to have everything ready for the exper-
iment, if after its many successes 1t can be
called an experiment. From half past seven
until quarter past eight will be the duration
of the illumination.
The professor states that some rare sights
may be expected, as from what he has heard
the bottom of the river here presents
most varied picture. Sunken wrecks, old
hulks that have years since disappeared from
sight, fish moving about, and the more ghast-
ly spectacle Of bodies the river has not yet
given up.
The city administrators, United States en-
gineers and gentlemen are invited on board
the tug Lily. at the head of Canal street,
whence the large electric battery will be
worked. The public from the wharves can
get an excellent sight of what was never
seen here before.
The professor, as will be seen by the clip
ping from the New York Herald given below,
was to have remained over at Wilmington
and Mobile to exhibit his invention but as he
is now en- route for Mexico, he had to hurry to
this city. He leaves for Vera Cruz on the
third instant.
The Herald of the twenty-third ultimo
gives the following extended history of the
professor and his exploits:
Notwithstanding the heavy rain, some
thirty or forty gentlemen, including Mayor
Ely. Wharf Commissioner OBrien, and
Messrs. Selye, Harrison and Masters. United
tug Hudson. at the foot of East Eghty-ninth
street, for the purpose OF witnessing Prof. ".
KiedoWsk's experiments with his submarine