The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-03-22
AN AMAZING EYE FOR FIRE.
The Electric Light and the Wonderful
Things it Eas Done.

Things 1t 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 it
could be so easily provided as to take,
in great measure, the place of gas for
lighting purposes, everybody was
naturally astonished and thought that
tie electricians were the greatest men
on earth. The new system was hard
" old enough to be an assured success
before lot of wise men began con-
sidering the advisability of dcvoting
this light to greater purpose than
that of merely lighting up the hum
drum affairs of everyday life.
As an experiment 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 immcdi-
ately to rack their brains for means
of keeping the water away from the
source ot hight. a coating or rubber
was finally placed over the joint where
the glass globe joins the brass holder,
and over this was drawn rubber bag
that fitted tightly over the top of the
globe and around the pipe through
| which the wire passed. This promised
to be successful, but 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 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
favorite method of catching cells is to
lure them within spearing distance by
bright light placed in the bow of
DodL. LiS III HOO OulN dttl AUS ceIS, DuI
nearly everything else that lives in the
water, and the professor was sure that
if light could be made to live at a
great depth in tae water the reward
would be great.
The steamer Aibatross, of the CON-
mission, was provided with an engine
and dynamo. 4 liberal supply of
heavy glass globes that would hold a
light equal to the lighting power of
one hundred candles was placed on
board, and equipped with other
| necessary articles, such as lot of in
sulating wire, large quantity of light,
strong rope, and a number of heavy
| weights to serve as sinkers, the steam
er started out. Tie first attempt was
unsuccessful, for at a 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 S. Hastings, of the Edison
Electric Light company, by Prof
Baird.
At point near the Bahamas, &C
| cordlng to the professor, the light was
dropped overheard and sunk by means
of heavy weights to nearly one thousand
fathoms below tho 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 star in
| the water at first, and it's rays were
seen, and in them were visible the
forms OF darting fish. The light soon
Int up the water for twenty feet around,
and a weird assortment of fish that had
| never before been heard of was seen.
When near the surface the entraiIs of
some of these fish burst from their
mouths. THE professor ascribed
this" said Mir. Hastings, "to the in
ward pressure. Nature Lad made
them so that they could live in the
great depths in which taey were found,
| and when this pressure of the deep
| water was removed there was coun-
teracting force that killed them.
The dead fish were just as useful for
the purpose for which the professor
| wanted them as live ones, and he
gathered in a great many rare and
| curious specimens without much
trouble. The light was also used to
good purpose for discovering the vari-