Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-18
Tests with the big Magnet
FRANKS OF INANhATE THINGS WHEN THE EARTH's
ATTRACTION Is OVERCOME

From the Flush ng Journal.
Through happy thought OF Major W. R King,
the commandant at the willet's Point military
post, the post now boasts one OF The largest and
strongest magnets In the world. This magnet has
already been referred to In the Journal, and some
OF the more recent experiments OF its power made
cannot fail to be OF interest TO our readers, To-
strument itself.
How the magnet came to be made was In this
manner: Last December Major King happened 70
see two large 15-inch Dahlgren guns lying unused
side by side on the dock He conceived the idea
structed by means OF these cannons with suoma-
rtne cable wound about them The experiment
proved very successful. The magnet. which stands
about 10 feet from the ground Is Is feet long, and
has miles OF cable wound about the upper part
OF the guns. Some faint idea OF its power may be
conceived from the tat that IL takes force OF
$4,000 pounds to pull on the armature.
The tests 70 demonstrate the enormous power OF
the magnet were made In the presence OF a num-
Corps, and were highly successful CROWDS
which was applied 70 the magnet required the
combined force OF four strong men 10 tear IL away.
Immediately new back and attached themselves 70
the magnet. A seemingly impossible. experiment
was vas peTlosmed Win some me-, niteen-incn cannon
strong man could LIT, yet the magnet held several
OF them suspended In the air, one under the other.
that was regarded with the greatest attention.
was the test made OF an American non-magnetic
watch. Ever since the great railroads or the
country have compelled Their employees 10 provide
themselves with timepieces that would not be az
fected by the magnetism generated by the car
trucks there has been much speculation as 70
whether SUCH q watch could lie made, and a sharp
rivalry has been going on between the American
and swiss Manufacturers. The test was highly
satisfactory, and once more proved that whenever
new invention was iinperatively demanded,
American genius could fully hold It's own against
the whole world. Major Kings magnet was 50
powerful that an ordinary watch was stopped
stock still as soon as II came within three feel OF
It. Before the test was made there was quite a
diversity OF opinion among the experts present as
10 how far It would prove successful
Those who believe that while q watch might be
under ordinary circumstances, were also OF the
opinion that when II was subjected TO the most
powerful magnet In the world the steel pinions
would jar 30 on the working parts that the watch
must necessarily stop. For ten minutes the watch
was held IN front OF the magnet II did not vary
held IL said that he himself was conscious OF the
influence OF the magnet He could feel as ne held
the watch by the chain that some other power
than his was keeping IL suspended
The most amusing experiment was made with
sledge hammer When one tined TO WELD IL In
direction opposite TO the magnet he felt though
he were trying 70 hit blow with long feather in
gale or wind There Is nothing IN the word that
could take the conceit out OF a strong man 50 much
as this simple experiment Another amazing test
was made with q number OF Carpenters spikes. A
spike was put lengthwise on the emu OF the
magnet, then another spike was attached TO the
nrsL, and so on until q line OF them stood straight
Aside from their interest 70 science, the expert
ments were 30 novel and startling that they were
entertaining even 70 those who were not interested
In the wonderful developments of electricity.