Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-17
APUzzLING PHENOMENON.
Oscillations of a Pair of Scales That are
Creating Wonder.
PhiIGdelDAa Special.
rauS of fba boro,,orl

Fhttd0etLlh SPECIAL.
The citizens of the borough of West
Chester are much excited over what ap-
pears to be a phenomenon that has pre-
sented itself in that town, and all of the
talent of the place is engaged in trying to
solve the problem. The mystery, which
looks like the accomplishment of per-
petual motion, is to be seen at the tobacco
store of Mr.. Thomas L. Smith. on East
Gay street, and the medium is nothing
more nor less than the weight attachment
of small pair of scales. \ special dis
patch to the Times says:
Ion last Monday evening, while Mr.
Smiths employees were making changes
in the arrangement of goods in stock. it
became necessary to lift from the floor
these scales. which were given a tempOr-
airy place on pile of tobacco boxes.
About an hour afterward a clerk noticed
that the rod attached to the end of the
beam for hanging the weights on was Os-
cillating with regular momentum, and,
after keeping his eyes upon it for several
minutes, was not little surprised at dis
covering that the pendulum-like motion
was kept up with precision, and that
it manifested no disposition to
stop. Thus, during the entire evening
this phenomenal action led hundreds of
people to witness the strange perform
ance, and when the time for closing ar
itself. Mr.. Smith and others believing that
it would run down long before morning.
Tuesday morning came, and upon opening
the store backward and forward swung
the rod and balance plate, with the same
steady motion that had characterized its
movements of the preceding evening, and
thus il has uninterruptedly kept its mo-
tiOn up since to the wonder of the en-
tire town. Up to this time il
to all appearances it is likely to continue
for an indefinite period, and as it holds
out i'm its unaccOuntable performance the
wonder and interest continue TO increase.
The rod which serves as a pendulum is
about foot in length, and its bearings at
the end of the beam are very complete,
the adjustment being of the most delicate
character. The motion of the rod is due
north and south, and its oscillations are
81 per minute, with no deviation what
ever. they having been tested score of
times bV interested lO0kers-On. The scales
have been in use in Mr.. Smiths store
for several years, their former position
being fittle northwest of their present
one and upon the floor. During the
first day of the movement the public
rejected the statement of Mr.. Smith and
his clerks as to there being no hidden
power. but since then continuous thrOng
of people have carefully and intelligently
examined into the causes, but no positive
solution has been reached. 1t is believed
by some that the pendulum is operated by
some broken electrical current, and this
theory is strengthened by the fact that
the W estern Union Telegraph Company
has an office in one of the upper stories of
the building, the wires to which
mass into the building over
the door leading to Mr.. Smiths store. A
large number of scientific gentlemen
watched the movements this morning for
hours. but. after comparing their notes
OF investigation, were unable to reach any
solution of the perpleXing problem. Prof.
Sharpless. State Assayer OfMassachusetts,
is i'm town to-day, and will give the mat
Ter y thorough investigation.