The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-10
AN EYE OF FIRE.
One of the Most Wonderful Things Done
by the Electric Light.

by the Electric Light.
When it was discovered that an arti-
fetal light that very closely resembles
the natural light of day could be pro-
duced from electricity, and that it could
be so easily provided as to take, in
great measure, the place of gas for
lighting purposes, every body was
naturally astonished and thought that
the electricians were the greatest men
on earth. The new system was hardly
old enough to be an assured success
before a lot of wise men began cOnsid-
ering the ACCESSIBILITY of devoting this
light to greater purpose than that of
merely lighting up the humdrum affairs
of everyday life.
AS an experiment, q small incandes-
cent light was thrust beneath the water
in q 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 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 a 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 experiment showed that the
glass was not strong enough to stand
the pressure of water, and after being
exposed TO it for q 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 eX-
listed 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 cells is to
lure them within spearing distance by
bright light placed in the bow of u
boat. Light not only attracts ecls, but
every thing 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 Albatross, of the COM
mission, was provided with an engine
and a dynamo. A 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 ar
ticles, such as lot of insulated wire, a
large quantity of light, strong rope, and
number of heavy weights to serve as
sinkers, the steamer started out. The
first attempt was unsuccessful, for at a
depth of 1000 fathoms the pressure
was so great upon the globe that il
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 some
thing 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, ac-
cording to the professor, the light was
dropped overheard and sunk by means
of heavy weights to nearly one thou
sand 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 was 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
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 entrails of some of
these fish burst from their mouths.
1.-The professor ascribed this" said
Mr. Hastings, "to the inward pressure.
Nature had made them so that they
could live in the great depths in which
they were found, and when this pres
sure of the deep water was removed
there was counteracting force that
killed them"
The dead fish were just rs useful for
the purpose for which the professor
wanted them as live ones, and he
gathered in Il great many rare and GU
rious specimens without much trouble.
The light was also used to good pur-
pose for discovering the various depths
in which different kinds of fish lived
Chicago Times.
"A moral guide to the stage is said
to be novel invention of II theatre