Wichita eagle., 1888-06-12
LIGHT UNDER WATER.
ELECTRIC ILLUMINATION OF THE
DEPTHS OF THE SEA.

An Experiment Which Was but the Be
ginning-A Search for Fish-The Elec
trio Light Reveals Creatures Never Be.
fore Seen by Man.
When it was discovered that an artificial
light that very closely resembles the natural
light of day could be procured from electric
ity, and that it could be so easily provided
as to take, in great measure; the place Of
gas for lighting purposes, everybody wa;
naturally astonished and thought that the
electricians were the greatest men on earth
The now system was hardly old enough to be
an assured success before lot of wise men
began considering the advisability Of devot
ing this light to greater purpose than that
of merely lighting up the humdrum affair
Of every day life.
As an experiment small incandescent
light was thrust beneath the water in foun-
tain. 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 Immediately to rack
their brains for a means of keeping the water
/ away from the source of light. A coating of
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 is
passed. This promised to be- successful, but
@ brief experiment showed that the glass was
not strong enough to stand the pressure Of
water, and, after being exposed to it for a
short time, would collapse. A globe was
then made OF plate glass that proved able to
stand the strain.
SEARCH FOR FISl
For some time this was only used in light
ing up fountains by way of an ornament.
Then it occurred to Professor Baird, of the
! United States fish commission, that if a 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 favorite
method of catching eels is to lure them within
spearing distance by a bright light placed in
the bow of boat. Light not only attracts
/ cells, but nearly everything else that lives in
the water, and the professor was sure that if
light could be made to live at great depth
in the water the reward would be great
/ The steamer Albatross of the commission
was provided with an engine and dynamo
A liberal supply Of heavy glass globes that
would hold light equal to the lighting
power of 100 candles was glazed on board
and, equipped with other necessary articles,
such as lot of insulated wire, a large guam
tity of light, strong rope, and a number of
heavy weights to serve as sinkers the steamer
started out. The first attempt was unsuccess-
full, for at depth of 200 fathoms the pres
sure 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 re-
lated TO Secretary Frank S. Hastings, of the
Edison Electric Light company, by Professor
Baird.
At point near the Bahamas, according to
the professor, the light was dropped over
board and sunk by means of heavy weights
to nearly 600 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 allowed to remain in
the water for some time, and then it wac
slowly raised. 1t looked like the reflection of
star In the water at first, and its rays were
seen, and in them were visible the forms of
darling fish The light soon lit up the water
for twenty feet around, and weird assert
ment of fish that had never before been heard
of was seen. When near the surface the en-
trails OF some of these fish burst from their
mouths. "The professor ascribed this" saii
MIR. Hastings, Ito the inward pressure Ma
ture had made them SO that they could live
In the great depths in which they were found
and when this pressure of the deep water was
removed there was a counteracting force
that killed them"
RARE AND CURIOUS SPECIMENS
The dead fish were just as useful for the
purpose for which the professor wanted them
as live ones, and be gathered in a great
many rare and curious specimens without
much trouble. The light was also used to
good purpose for discovering the various
depths in which different kinds of fish lived.
The cost of fitting up steamer with the
necessary apparatus to produce electric light
is about $500, but this first cost would be
counterbalanced by the cheapness of the
light it would produce. The cost Of light,
roughly estimated, would not be within one
sixth as much as the cost of tho usual method
of lighting.
The United States torpedo station at New
port is experimenting with electricity in
order to expose by its rays any obstruction
that might lie in the path Of vessel The
experiments have reached that point where
it is certain that the water can be readily
Illuminated for . space sufficiently great to
show passage for vessel The difficulty is
in regard to the prope.ing of this light at
distance sufficiently far ahead to enable
vessel to swerve from its course or come to a
full stop before striking q revealed obstrue-
ton. The idsa Of these experiments is to
show, in times Of war, expl osives that lie
beneath the water
In the West Indies and the Bahamas, where
valuable shells and sponges lie deep in the
water, the searchers after these articles have
a box with glass bottom The top is open.
In the box is placed . lamp, and then the
glass bottom is pressed down in the water
until it is slightly below the surfacs The
water directly below the box is perfectly
smooth, and it is possible to see through the
water for nearly ninety feet. Mr.. Hastings
thinks that this same system could be adopted
with the electric light, which would throw a
stream of light much stronger than could be
by any other Means. A boy was
recently drowned at WincheEdon, Mass.
Two days later his body was discovered by
means of an electric light that was thrust
under water by pole. In the clearing and /
raising of wrecks the electric light, it il
thought, will be Of great value-New York /
Women Who Want Shoes.
Il Is an easy matter for "a experienced |