Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-21
Aailp 3tn'atbef 5onrual.
Augusta. Tuesday Morning, Nov. 81.
The Electric Storm.

Ihe electrical phenomend LOT week past
have been wonderful, surprising anything
known for many years. In 1881, during
series Of observations by Prof Henry, then
at Albany, but late of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition, he observed great disturbance of the
magnetic needle during conspicuous aurora.
which was also noticed in England and other
parts of this country at the same time. But
the late electrical disturbance appears to have
been greater than that noticed by Prof. Henry
in this country at least, and probably in
Europe.
For several DAYS this disturbance has contin-
ued, TO the great annoyance Of all the teie-
graph operators in this country and in some
places by complete blockade Of business at
intervals on the wires. II has been accom-
panied By bright aurora every night, and
continues as we write this article. In this
State the disturbance seems to have been
more felt at Bangor than at any other point,
though the operators in this city, also at
Portland and Lewiston have been greatly
troubled by the perverse working Of the
wires. Reports from all other cities in the
country go to prove the widespread prera-
lence and intensity Of the electric storm.
The New York Times of Saturday publishes
the following facts which Will be interesting
to our readers:
yo.,ard.,,. s,or,n wss accommodated bv a
No.. ..r;ons eI.c,ric.l di.,urhance than has
been known for years. 1t very seriously af-
fected the workings of the telegraph liEes
both on the land and in the sea, and for three
hon,s f,,m q A NJ until noon-teleyranh
h,s;n.ss eas, of tho Nissis.inni and north of
W..h;noton was a, a stand siill The humid.
inv ~ ,h.. a,mosnhere which has been 80 an.
,.r.n, Cor s.ver,I xeeks has resulted in a
density mos, favorable ~ electrical phenom
ena An anrora borealis was the frat evil
daoca ,f ,L. overcbarging of the ato,o.pbere
y;,h .l.c,r;c Amid This anneared a, anon,
Z o.cIock yesterdav mornine and wa. brilliant
I, tho ex,,eme 4, tho same bour trouhle
hogan 70 he exnerienced in the action of the
t.legranb wires The circuits were broken
and the usual annoyances ACCOMMODATING such
di.turbapces were manifested These in
creased in intensity untii Q O'Clock. at which
bour !, became impossible To transmit mes
cages over the wires having an earth circuit
that il where the ends Of tbe line were
grounded Such lines al had a metallic cir.
c;rcu;, workeJ all rioht tbrou0hout the dav
bowayar an1 40 some l;ttle hus;p.ss was
transac,ed over isolated Iines The disturb-
arce continued until | 5oP NJ whom the
elec,r;c storm seemed tn have ceased Wires
IN the Sou,h were frat in working order and
soon af,er ,bosc in tho VS., Nortb and Fast
assumed their normaI condition in the order
named Mr. Rooart who is in charge of the
,pera,;no.rooms of the Western Irnion Tele.
oranh Comnanv in this civ. saws the disturb
ance was the most severe and long-continued
no has over known While no great DAMAGE
was done tbere wes very much ANNOYANCE nv
reason NJ the DELAY in the transmission Of
business. and at 4 o'clock. when III. trouble
seemed IN have ceased entirely. every instru-
mani and everv onarator vas busv in rusbing
off the accumulated busincss
The nnder.rn,,rd vires and cables seamed
IN no ma serionsIy affected as the land lines
A. the Office of the Direct Cable Connarv At
Ave o,cIock Yesterday afternoon messaues
were refused for transmission. excenr where
the 40, ders woul nvree IN accent sncb delay
a. was nnaro;dahls A, ,h,t hnnr tho cables
vrar. f,a or s;x bonrs beb;pd time in both
,be RECENT and ,ransmis.io, nf ,nsiness
Dur;ng ,b. electric storm Mr. Rrown the
ch;.f nn.r.,or stated !, ,,. imnoss;hle ,o
,orL d.. cahles a, all evcsr, M, ,,,,i,, oa
,hs grou,J wires and MAKING , metallic cir
chi, nv ronnectiny the land ends Of two
cables This was done bnt even ,hen the
cables worked in n very uusatisf,ctorv man.
nor and l;,,Is hns;,,ss could hc tr,ns.c,ed
and his v.rv .InwIy A. tho land li,es ,yere
no, work;ng such service was of M v,lue in
This c;tv Transmission from the other side
was ser;opsIv intprfereJ with Inv snow-
storm which nrevaiIcd and had irterfared
w;,h Tho Land sorv;co in En,,l,nd Tho eI.c.
,r;c d;s,nrh,ncos aIso nrsyan,od ..rvic. ov.r
r. Waw;',,,I Co., RI. a. I'll =.
a.. a,,.n,;, o,hIo,
The ,.,orbnne limos og tho Ne,ro,ol;t,,
T.ia,,h,na Ca,,n,n, ,lsa r.s,sna 80 ~
two o'clock the wires assumed their normal
condition and business went on unnterrupt
edIy aiter 'hat hour' During tue ume 'nat
eo w.. .a,i.