Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-18
The Great Electric Storm.
ITS MANIFESTATIONS IN IRIS CITY AND ELSEWHERE
AuRnR L STORMS .Nn sI-S Srnr-

AURoRsL STORMS AND sun SPOTS
Inc eiectrie storm, which prevailed throughout
this country and Europe and very generally sus-
pended all Geographic communication is pro-
nounced to be the most Widespread and most in
tense experienced for years. IL ever before The
chief operator OF the Western Union telegram
ONCE In this city said that the magnetic inter-
ference was greatest on the east and west lines
out IL was found that by using Wire for the re,
turn current instead OF the earth and thus
making metallic circuit throughout most OF the
trouble was avoided. This I'm his on!onion
clearly Indicated that the proxlmate source OF the
disturbance was the earth and not the atnlts-
phere, although it is In the atmosphere that such
magnetic storms usually manifest themselves in
one or the wires OF the Western Union Telegraph
company was worked between Washington and
baitiaore with the terrestrial current alone, the
patterles having been entirely detached.
similar experiment was successfully tried at
The Office of the United State signal
The storm seemed TO 60 In successive negative aud
positive waves through the telegraph wires alter
natsiy neutrazing the currents or increasing the
intensity 10 such degree as TO burn everything
up. Inc switchboard in Chicago was on fire a
dozen times during the morning and half dozen
Keys OF Instruments were melted. The duplex
ana QuadrupleX systems were rendered entirely
useless, and at noon but one out o, firteon wires
oetWeen Chicago and New York was In operation,
ana II was frequently interrupted. AT Milwaukee,
The atmospheric electricity on one OF the country
wires had such power as TO suffice to keep an cleo
briliancy was observed last night in Chicago
which filed two-thirds OF the sky With a blaze
Np SNlspascn was sent yesterday from Bangor, Me-, to
NOrtn Sydney. Cape Breton, without the use of
Datte ery. The distance is 200 miles
Another proof OF the connection between aurora
magnetic disturbance. A very large sun-spot is
SAD 10 be now visible the disc of the sum- near
the edge.
WHAT Prof. SKINNER SAYS ABOUT Sun SPOTS AND
ELECTRICAL STORMS
The recurrence OF the electric storm OF yester.
day and the observance upon the surface OF the
sun OF large spots gave rise to the query as to
whether there was any connection between these
two phenomena. A STAR reporter put this aues-
tion to Prof. Skinner at the Observatory this
morning, and that distinguished star gazer said:
ut cannot be said that there is any connection
between sun spots and electrical storms, for the
reason that there is not enough known about such
phenomena TO support such theory. But still it
mas been ascertained that there is periodciiy
ABOUT sun spots OF seven years. At the beginning
or the period these are not few and In the middle
Is observed the greatest number with gradual d.
mlnshing numbers towards the latter part Now
1t has been observed that at the period OF the
ric storms"
The sun spots being prior to the storm inter-
posed the reporter
No responded the Professor, you can't ex-
acctly say that
Rather put in Prof. Frisbie, who was lis
tener to the conversation, "you should say that
these phenomena occur at the same time"
"1hen the sun spots are not the cause of the
electric Storm" asked the reporter
I'VE don't know what is the cause OF the cleo
uric storms, continued Prof. Skinner, "any more
than we know what is the cause OF the sun spots
or any OF the other phenomena OF the sun, about
Whlcn our knowledge Is mainly hypothetical /
TO observe large sun spot yesterday.
ana lt appeared TO have a circular motion, with a
form something like 1unnel-a. shape that had
never seen before
"What connection had the auroral displays with
the othef phenomena?" Ventured the reporter"
ut has been observed on several occasions that
these displays accompanied the appearance OF the
sun spots, but the observations do not incluue a
suiflcient number OF times to warrant the theory
tnat there is such a connection exists between
the sun spots and the electric storms. 1 expect
that the observations obtained yesterday WIN |
throw additional light upon the causes OF the re-
currence OF aurOral displays"
what is the cause OF electric storms, profess |
for?' asked the curious listener
81 don't know the