Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-11-22
THEELEUTRIC STORM.
The Phenomenon as Expert
enced Throughout the COun-
try and I'm Europe.

enced Throughout Inc COun.
try and I'm Europe.
NEW YORK, November 17.-Tele- |
graphic communication has been gen.
orally interrupted to-day by an excep-
tionally severe electric storm. Ex-
perienced telegraphers say that it was
the worst of the kind for many
years. The storm extended through
out the United States and the eastern
provinces of Canada. The cables
were hours behind. 1t is showing at
Buffalo, Albany and Boston, and Is
several inches deep at the two latter
cities.
CHICAGO, November 1.-THE Off
cials of the Western Union Telegraph
Company here say the electrical dis
turbances in this country to-day are
the most pronounced and widespread
experienced for years, if indeed they
have been paralleled, in some respects,
at any time. An electrical storm of
the greatest violence ragged in all the
territory from point beyond Omaha
and from Kansas City north to the
terminus of the telegraph communica-
ton, practically putting a stop to tele-
graph service over the entire area. 1t
first began to be felt about O'Clock
this morning, and increased in intensi-
ty till about 9:45, when communica-
ton from every direction was cut Oh.
This electric storm seemed to go in
successive negative and positive
waves, alternately neutralizing the
currents on the wires or increasing
their intensity, and to such degree
as to burn everything up. A switch
board here was on fire dozen times
during the forenoon, and half dozen
keys of the instruments were melted
by the current, which continued to
pass through with screw turned up
and the points parted to their farthest
limit. Duplex and quadruplex wires
| were rendered entirely useless, and at
noon but single wire out of fifteen
between this city and New York was
in operation and it was frequently in
terrupted. Word was received from
Milwaukee that the atmospheric elec-
tricity coming in one of its wires from
the country had such dynamic power
as to suffice for keeping the electric
lamp burning. All business at the
Office here is subject to delay. Even
the Associated press reports were in
yariably delayed, and up to one o'clock
this afternoon less than 500 words had
been transmitted.
In an interview, the night manager
of the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, at one o'clock, stated that the
electric storm throughout the country
still continued and the regular business
of the Telegraph company was carried
on under great difficulties. The dis
turbance is unlike any heretofore ex-
perienced, as it appears to act upon
the wires in strong waves, causing
constant charging of the polarity of
1 currents. Reports from Omaha state
that the aurora is very brilliant at that
point, the illumination being almost az
light as day At st. Paul it is report
ed the heavens have blood-red color.
Cheyenne reports the illumination at
that point as bright as day" The
telegraph company devised a new
trick to beat the aurora. When, on
account of the great induction, it was
impossible to work with one wire, they
discovered that by taking two wires
from the ground between any two CIV
en- points and joining their ends togeth-
er (instead of being grounded) cir
cult was form that could be successful
ly worked. In this way eight wires
between Chicago and Buffalo were
made to do the service as four. All
long wires were broken up into short
curcuits by which means New York
and the far Western points are reached.
CINCINNATI, November 1.-THE
electrical storm began to be observed
here on the eastern wires at 8 A. NJ.
Its effects gradually increased until at
1890 this place was completely sur
rounded The storm reached south
east as far as Augusta, KY. Wires
were worked here to Columbus and
st. Louis with the battery at this end.
The wires were very heavily charged,
a fame appearing when contact was
broken.
CLEVELAND, November IA mag
netic storm of remarkable force and un-
paralleled duration prevailed here,
commencing about 4 O'Clock A. NJ,
prostrating telegraph communication
until noon, when it began to abate.
At intervals the wires were worked
without the battery and with ground
connection. One line was worked
with metallic circuit by making
loop with Cincinnati wires. The dis
trict call wires and short lines were
not much affected and telephone COM
munication seemed to be improved. An
extraordinary feature is that the
weather is rainy and muddy, whereas
electric storms occur when the wealth
er is clear and dry.
| WASHINGTON, November 1.-THE
electric storm at noon to-day almost
suspended operations in the Western
Union Office At intervals the wires
were worked solely by the auroral cur
rent. The needle in the galvanometer
ner,-varying as much as eighty de-
grees Experienced operators say it
was the most remarkable electric storm
for many years.
YANKToN, November l7.--Fully
| two-thirds of the sky was ablaze to-
night with light of many colors, rare
phenomenon in this region. The tele-
graph wires refused to work during
the entire forenoon.
MILWAUKEE, November l7.--Strong
currents of uncomfortable electricity
pervaded the atmosphere and actually
suspended all telegraph communication
at this place from 8 A. NJ. until after
noon An electric lamp attached to a
st. Paul wire made q brilliant illum-
ination without the use of battery.
/ Rnainarn IN lChanno Mac uirtuallv