Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-18
AN ELECTRIC WAVE.
1t Plays tho Dickens With the Telegraph
Wires in All Directions-Singular Phe-
nome ma.
In st. Paul.

In St. Paul.
An electric wave swept over the country
like broadside yesterday, and the resi-!
dents of st. Paul we're treated, just after
shutdown last evening, to one of the most
brilliant displays of the aurora ever wit
messed in this generation. The phenomena
was first visible about dark, when the
northern sky from zenith to horizon, be-
came lit up with streamers of bright light.
At first the borealis appeared in the
shape of pennons or streamers of pale
saffron or opal light, which rapidly
changed into hues of crimson. Seen from
a local or starting point the sky
became encircled with diagonal shafts of
light, changeful in color and seeming to
radiate from a common center.
The display was one of the most brilliant
and interesting ever witnessed, and it.
lasted far into the evening. 1t was I'M
doubtedly owing to atmospheric disturb
ances consequent upon the electric current,
and what significance may be attached to.
it by scientists remains to be seen.
EIscicI.cre.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Nov. 17.-Oficials of the,
Western Union Telegraph company here,
say the electrical disturbances 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 electric storm
of the greatest violence, ranging in all the
territory from New York to points beyond
Omaha, and from Kansas City north to the
terminus of the telegraphic commuuica-
| ton, practically puts stop to telegraph
| service over the entire area. It first began
| to be felt about 4 o'clock this morning and
increased in intensity till 9:45, when COM
munication from every direction was cut
off. This electric storm seemed to go in
successive negative and posi-
tive waves, alternately neutralizing
the currents on the wires or increasing
their intensity to such degree as to burn,
everything up. Switchboards have been
on fire dozen times during the forenoon.
and half a dozen keys of instruments
melted by the current which continued to
pass though the screw was turned up and
the points parted to the farthest limit.
Duplex and quadruplex wires were render
ed entirely useless, and at noon but
/
New York was in operation. and it was.
frequently interrupted. Word was re-
ceived from Milwaukee that the at
mospheric electricity coming in on one
of its wires from the country
had such dynamic power as to suffice for
keeping an electric lamp burning. All
business at the Office here was accepted
subject to delay. Even the Associated
Press report was unavoidably delayed, and
iup to O'Clock this afternoon, less than
five hundred words had been taken.
CHICAGO, Nov. 17.-In an interview to-
night, the manager of the Western Union
Telegraph company, stated that the cleo
| trical storm throughout the country still
continues, and the regular business of the
company was carried on under great diff
culties. The disturbance is unlike any
heretofore experienced, as it appears.
to act on the wires in strong
waves, causing constant chang
ing of the polarity of currents.
Reports from Omaha say the aurora is
very brilliant at that point, the illumina--
ton being almost as bright as day. At
st. Paul it is reported the heavens have q
blood red color, the display being grand
and fearful. The great storm extends as
far west as Ogden and east to.
Boston. The telegraph company de-
vised new trick to beat the au-
rora. When, on account of the great
inductions, it was impossible to work with
one wire, they discovered that by taking
two wires from the ground between any
two given points and joining their ends
together Gnsteed of the same being
! grounded circuit was formed that could
be successfully worked. In this way eight
wires between Chicago and Buffalo were
made do service as four. All long wires
are broken up into short circuits by
which means New York and
far western points are reached.
NEW York, Nov. -Telegraphic CON-
munication is interrupted by a severe
electric storm. Experienced telegraphers
say it is the worst Of the kind for many
years. The storm extends throughout the
United States, and eastern provinces of
Canada, cables are hours behind. It is
showing at Buffalo, Albany and Boston,
several inches deep at the two latter named
cities.
| CLEVELAND, Nov. ia magnetic storm
| of remarkable force and unparalleled dura--
ton has prevailed here since about 4
O'Clock this morning. prostrating tele--
graphic communication until about noon.
when it began to abate. At intervals the
wires worked without battery with.
ground connection. The line was worked.
with a metallic circuit by making loop
with two wires. The district call wires
and short lines were not much affected,
and telephone communication seemed to
be improved. An extraordinary feature
is that the weather is rainy and muggy,
whereas electric storms generally occur
when the atmosphere is clear and dry.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. ia peculiar eisc-
trical disturbance in connection with the
working of the telegraph wires, was no.
ticed here this forenoon. It commenced
about o'clock and has continued up to
noon. The phenomena presented here
were such as to charge the wires when the
batteries were removed, and at times pre-
senting change of polarity. The use of
the quadruplex system had to be aband-
oned for time, and the metallic circuit
was found to work without the disturbance
of current reversals.
CINCINNATI, Nov. 17.-The electrical
| storm began to be observed here on the
| eastern wires at a. m. Its effect gradu-
ally increased until at 1870, this place was
| completely surrounded. The storm reached