Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-12
AN AMAZING EYE FOR FIRE.
The Electric Light and the WondeEfaI
Things it Has Done.

Things it Has Done.
When it was discovered that an artl-
fetal light that very closely resembles
the natural light of day could be pro-
cured from electricity. and that 1t
could be so easily provided as to take,
in a great measure, the place of gas for
lighting purposes, everybody was
naturally astonished and thought that
the electricians were the greatest men
on earth The new system was hard
" old enough to be an assured success
before a lot of wise men began con-
sidering the adyisability of deYOting
this light to a greater purpose than
that of merely lighting up the hum
drum affairs of everyday life.
As an experiment a small incandes-
cent light was thrust beneath the water
in fountain. The effect was superb
while it lasted, but the water managed
to work its way into the globe, and
the light was extinguished. This
gave the electricians something to
think about, and they began immedi-
atcly to rack their brains for a means
Of keeping the water away from the
source of light. A coating or rubber
was finally placed over the joint where
the glass globe joins the brass holder,
and over this was drawn a rubber bag
that fitted tightly over the top of the
globe and around the pipe through
which the wire passed. This promised
10 be successful, but a brief expert
ment showed that the glass was not
strong enough to stand the pressure of
water, and after being exposed to it
for short time, would collapse. a
globe was then made of plate-glass
that proved able to stand the strain.
For some time this was only used in
lighting up fountains by way of an
ornament. Then it occurred to Prof.
Baird, of the United States fish COM
mission, that if light could be used
under water it would prove of great
advantage to him in his search for fish
that never allowed themselves to be
caught by any of the old-fashioned
methods. He believed that there
existed at a great depth in the ocean
various kinds of fish that had never
been seen. Every boy who has ever
lived near the water knows that a
favOrite method of catching eels is to
lure them within spearing distance by
a bright light placed in the bow of a
boat. Light not only attracts eels, but
nearly everything else that lives in the
water, and the professor was sure that
if a light could be made to live at q
great depth in the water the reward
would be great.
The steamer AsbatrOss, of the COM
mission, was provided with an engine
and a dynamo. A liberal supply of
heavy glass globes that would hold 4
light equal to the lighting power OF
one hundred candles was placed on
board, and equipped with other
necessary articles, such as a lot of in
sulating wire, large quantity of light,
ssong rope, and number of heavy
weights to serve rs sinkers, the steam
er started out. The first attempt was
unsuccessful, for at depth of one
thousand fathoms the pressure was so
great upon the globe that it broke,
another trial was speedily made with
heavier globes, and they were found
able to stand the pressure Of any depth
to which they could be sunk. But the
most wonderful part of this trial trip,
which took place something like three
years ago, was related to Secretary
Frank 5. Hastings, of the Edison
Electric Light company, by Prof.
Baird.
At point near the Bahamas, &C.
cordng to the professor, the light was
dropped overheard and sunk by means
of heavy weights to nearly one thousand
fathoms below the surface. On the
deck of the vessel stood the crew with
nets ready to drop them under the fish
that were lured from their homes in
the great depth. The light was al
lowed to remain in the water for some
time, and then it was slowly raised.
1t looked like the reflection of a star in
the water at first, and its rays were
seen, and in them were visible the
forms of darting fish. The light soon
lit up the water for twenty feet around,
and weird assortment of fish that had
never before been heard of was seen.