Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06
ELECTRICITY In WAR.
Experience Of an Expert in the Late
Unpleasantness in Chile.
FACTS ABOUT COAST DEFEESES.
Broken Saw Teeth Are Now Replaced By
the New Welding Process.
THE CURRENT USED AS A DETECTIVE
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. !

A foretaste of the extent to which the
work of the electrician will enter into the
war operations of the future is given in the
lively times through which the representa-.
tive of prominent electrical firm has just
been passing in connection with the poIitI
ical strugglef now waging in Chile. Being
stationed at Iquique. the great nitrate port
in the possession of the Congressional party
opposed to Balmaceda, he was called upon
to furnish light for q lighthouse on an ISL
and about 1000 yards from the harbor shore.
The. means available were limited. Eight
arcs OF 1,200 candle-power were first PMS
inside Darabolic reflector feet in dame
ter and eight feet in length, but the effects
were not satisfactory. Then an old mirror
was borrowed from the engineer Of the
Cochrane, one of the insurgent ironclads,
that had done service in her searchIight.
This was fixed up with 1,200tc. D. light put
in box, and tried near the dynamo house.
steam being got for the engine from the
local fire brigade house. The result was
brilliant and q beautiful ray was thrown
across the harbor.
Now, however, came the question Of get
ting circuit to the island There was
about 200 feet of copper wire available in
various sizes, but there was not enough of
No. o to make an ordinary stretch. After
owing about all over the bay, the electrical
engineer found an old rotten cylinder in a
wrecked steamer. He knocked of the head
and putin a big pole, which was steadied
with rock, ETC. This being about midway
gave him about 500 yards stretch on each
side of the pole. He then had an SO-foot pole
both on the land end and the island end.
He still found that his wire was not equal to
his wants, and finally he was helped out of
the difficulty by the local telephone COM
pany, who gave him o supply OF iron wire
TO nnlsh his circuit, which, by this time, was
about 5000 yards. When everything was
fixed up, the insurgent government said
plant was shut down. But it was soon
started again.
One night one OF the Presidential torpedo
boats ran into the bay and skir1nished
around in such lively way, houtine the
shipping, sending of torpedoes and "play-
ing the devil" generally, that the Congress
sional party were thoroughly scared, and
paid the waiting bill in short order. The
next night the plant was set going, and the
improvised light threw a beam that would
cover nearly couple of miles in any di-
rectlon. 1t was arranged that any of the
Congressional launches cruising about all
the time should show certain lights, and
they did so whenever the beam caught
them. At last the search light picked up
two craft coming in together, showing no
light whatever. As they made no response
the light was kept steadily on them. They
were "visibly embarrassed" and at length
turned round and made for the open sea.
They were evidently torpedo launches sent
in By the "Condell' to make havoc of the
ironclads. After this proof of its utility the
search light was kept going nightly, and un-
Questionably played a most important part
in maintaining the safety of the city.