The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-13
AURORAS WITCH THE WIRES.
UNSEEN TLEC7EICAL FINGERS FROM
THE SUSLIT SKY
Tnngte Up the Telegraph Bu.incss from
Chicago to London and from New Orleans
to Observation-Disclosures Cables InvoIved.

to Mon'rrsl-AtlaniicC Gables Invoived.
II will be news to most folks to hear that
there was n very remarkable display OF the
aurora horcalis in these parts yesterday. But
what was not known by the general public
about the matter was moro than made UP for
by the exaspcrating amount OF knowledge the
electricians and telegraph operators had Of it.
In this case it was display of aurornl force
without any scenic effects. The atmosphere
of the whole country. north. SOUTH enst. and
west OF the north Atlantic and even AS far
over as Great Britain. was very heavily
charged with electricity. and for an hour in
the middle OF the day all efforts to telegraph.
by either aerial. underground. or submarine
circuit. were vanity and vexation of spirit.
On the occasion OF the last auroral disturb
ance. on July rs ult. it was noted Ivy the
electricians. and told by THE Sun. that the
amount of electrical force in tho atmosphere
was very much greater during the day, be-
tween tho hours OF IL A. NJ. nnd4 T. NJ. than
at night. There was wondroIs celestial
spectacle at night on that date. but tho auro-
raj force was not felt nearly so much then rs
during tho day. The auroral disturbances
yesterday were worry great. but the footlEhts
of tho sun killed the red and blue fire Of tho
aurora up in the hies.
broadway. the aurora practically busted
every wire running out OF tho Office for
longer OF shorter ptTiOu IetWcCi NOON anu y
o'clock in the evening.
We have been very much bothered, by tho
aanroral force all the afternoon" snld Manager
disturbance has been more remarkable than
any that have known. Usually its effects are
further north the greater the Interruption.
But today we felt it on circuits running in
We were AS much bothered on tho New Orleans
circuit MS on Montreal. At times every circuit
al II n n prN
sional!y able to work some circuits. as Boston
and Montreal, for, several minutes by that
course was only temporary. because the force
Of the current IS So variable. and It reverses
could Do nothing piactea either With hA It "p
! with our own batteries. Tho greatest trouble
SIa, tssi 81 3aSs ~ s5 S 4 sss
July il. but It was strong enough to stop US
would get to work. when suddenly the aurora
SKY 1 high. "' BY o'eloSE. however we seemed
! to DO pretty clear of It,"
The Atlantic cables felt the auroral disturb
| ance as much As the land lines. and it Is on
the delicate instruments Of the cable circuits
that the effects of these mysterious electrical
sSous I55s5 IT, SyS York si%s ysstsr sf
really. delicate, galvanometer needle. was
steadily DETECTED far from the zero limo and
! pulled nv the anTofal force away Deypnu any
| point to which the ordinary current Of the
| cable circuit ever draws it. 1t would remain
SO DETECTED for n minute or So slowly return
| to zero. and then trave! over into the opposite
| direction. The rcvcrsals. the strength and
the durations of the nuroral currents could
thus be most clearly observed. The disturb
ance was not nearly 50 strong as that OF July
III and tho interference with communication
| Al! the cables. Commercial and Western
| Union. running under the sea from here to
| Nova Scotia felt tho aurora. At times it was
| found possible to operate the land circuits
from here to Rockport. Mass. with the auroral
We we're bothered n great deal for n whole
| hour. from 1880 to | 80 T. NJ" said Superin-
| tcndrnt Smart OF the Com nj ercial Cable Com
! pany. but it was worse during the first half
| hour. The trouble WAS Just as bad on the long
! cable. from Nova Scotia to Ireland. as on the
| cables wholly on this side"
| The cables the Western Union. from Nova
| Scotia to Penz;tncr. were equally affected and
interrupted. and it was reported from Great
| Britain that telegraph circuits over there were
| very much disturbed by auroral currents.
This WON'T indicate that the auroral forces
| were eXcrtcd over an immense area. Chi
cago was " laid ont in all directions to some
| extent, at times wholly interrupted. and it's n
long reach from Chicago to England. but the
| aurora seemed to stretch it.
The thunderStorms which have bothered tho
| land circuits so much in the past week have
| not troubled tho cables at all. 1t Is very rare
| that such electric storms have any effect on
| submarine cables.