The Osceola times., 1879-05-10
TIE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
A HrfIiinnt Scene Under Canvas Some
Facts About the Wenderfwi Machine.
Philsdel phia Times.

lnt titCtfiN Bkut ~ AfDOlEf ~ DdllCJ y
circus hss proved wonderful thing. On
Saturday night, when the people entered
the first mensgerie tent, it was as light
as midday, and mans shadow reflected
on the ground WAS as clesn and clesr-cut
as IL 1t were done in silhouette. Held
ing up the hands, psntomime fashion,
every curve and motion OF the fingers
could be seen with the distinclness and
clearness of an illuminated picture
Above the head burned what seemed to
be two balls Of fire, without any flame
or smoke, and OF such dazzling brilhsncy
that the naked eye could hardly stand
the glare for an instant. A million
little needles of variegated light seemed
to be perpetually shooting out rom the
body of the FIRE, giving each the appear
snce of a small chestnut burr. Looking
at the light through smoked glass they
took on an entirely different appearance.
The little needles were not there, and
the eyes saw simply a round ball of
white fire, about the size OF small
marble, seeming, in its wbiteness and
the intensity OF its heat, like drop OF
molten metal. Two OF these small lights
burned there, rigged on the poles, about
thirty feet apart, in the large mensgerie
tent, lighting up the place in such a way
that colors in cloth or any ything else
could be distinguished as completely as
by the light of day. Pasrirg on to the
next mensgerie tent, the same sight was
presented, Here two electric lights pro.
duced the same effect a. in the first tent
The brightness WAS wonderful. No
moonlight ever sent out teLth part OF
such brilliancy. 80 completely were
the tents illuminated that from the out-
side could be plainly seen on the white
canvas the shadow of the animals and
wagons, and even of the men walking
about inside. ..,
But the great scene was in the circus
tent. 1t is large enough almost to con.
tain both the mensgerie tents. Here
were six electric lights. There were also
some gas lights. The gas must have
been there for the sake OF the contrast.
The difference was remarkable. The
electric lights were of the purest and
softest white; the gas-light, though
burning at full head, seemed faded and
yellow. Although the electric lights in
this tent had globes on, as the naked
glare OF them all must have almost
blinded the audience, every nook and
corner of the immense tent was rs BRIGHT
as day. An idea of the power OF single
light OF this kind-which is said TO be
the largest electric light msde--msy be
gained when it is known that when al
lowed to burn without globe it will
make shadow out o! gas>light.
There WAS great curiosity and no little
anxiety among the circus people and
electric light men to see the thing work
The intention was 10 have it, il possible
in operation on the opening night, Mon
day last, but when the time came it was
found it could not be done Three OF
four experienced men were sent on by
the Telegraph Supply company, of Cleve
land, the manufacturers OF the machine
to get 1t in order. On Friday night
everything was in readiness, and the
;; machine was put into operation. Thi,
is the first time the electric light hs.
, been used under canvas, and its success
has been great card to the maDuiac
turers as well as to the circus managers
The latter have bought the exclusiv,
right TO use it under canvas Tae cos
OF the machine alone was fl5 600. 1t il
the largest machine of the kind made
! IL Is known rs the brush dypamo.elec
tric light, Charles Brush being the in
, ventor. o..
i Anyone who understands anythn.
8 about telegraphy will be able to form al
U ides OF the way in which the machine i
run. There iss regular battery, WORKED
. by a thirty horse power engine, with ,
forty.horse power boiler This engin,
: has been built expressly for this electric
light by the Fitchburg Engine company
e OF Fitchburg, Mass, and is constructed
on wagon, occupying one end, Will,
the battery occupies suother. The bat
terry seems simple Ia it's construction
but all powerful in its effects.
I. Have any of you gentlemen watches
in your pocketsY" asked one of tn,
S electric light men on Saturday night
: as party gathered round the wagon
J. where the engine was putting away, Il
o examine the battery.
= ODe voice answered in the fiirma tive
e "Stand back, then" said the eectri,
a light man. "don't come within two
= feet OF this battery, il you don't wan
Q your watch spoiled"
f. Z" What 2"
5 "I. will magnetizs all the steel il
t your watch, draw the springs TOWARD
D any steel screw 1t may have. It's The
| attraction of the magnetism. I've hst
two watches spoiled in thst way"
All this time a revolving shaft be
' tween four blocks OF steel wss whirlinp
with lightning rapidity. The foul
. blocks of steel and tne revolving shat
, were the all,powerful elements in pro
E ducing the electric light. These five
/ simple things, with one or two othel
1 simple things in the way of copper plate
1 and wire, were producing such tre
s mendous current OF electricity that, in
2 the words OF one OF the electric light
, men, "If you were to stand ten mile,
E off and touch that revolving shaft--o
: commutstor-with a piece of electric
l wire, the wire would burn up like &
3 fash"
? Touch that copper plate" said the
! electric man, pointing to q harmless
' piece OF copper on the edge OF the wsgor
near the whirling shaft One of The
party did 80, and jumped back, jerking
his arm away as il he had been shot.
The four blocks OF steel are the mag
nets. They are oval in shape and COW
cred with copper wire, cOiIed tightly
around them. The commutator revolv.
ing between them is what generates the
electricity 1t is run by belt connec :
ing its one end with the oeltwheel OF the
engine. II makes 750 revolutions a
minute, and with every revolution the
| cuvyant NJ q ec ricitv ya vpia nuro aroupd