Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-03-09
NikOM Tesla.

NthOM 1GStU
Mr.. Tesla's apparatus is of an APP
parently simple character. A plain
deal table, very strongly constructed
and some twenty feet long, contained
the induction coils, disks and general
apparatus, while on a smaller table
were arranged a large number of alcu-
| UNI bulbs, in appearance resembling
the incandescent light bulbs in use for
commercial and private purposes. On
the left of the table was a very hand
some circlet, brilliantly illumined and
bearing the words: est. Louis Electric
Ex., $685." worked around it's border.
At about $50 o'clock between twenty
and thirty of the leading electricians in
the city in attenda nee on the electrical
convention marche d on the stage and
occupied seats at safe distance from
the experiment table, and a moment or
two later President Aver introduced
the hero of the evening, who was re-
ceived with vociferous applause, many
of the audience standing up to get a
good look at the fragile-appearing
young man to whom the electrical
world is looking now for the greatest
developments of the times In briefest
possible terms President Aver intro
duced the lecturer, obeying the wishes
expressed him by Nilola Tesla and in
Producing him as such, without the pre-
fx of either mister or professor.
The lecture and demonstra ton them
selves were of a nature which had to be
seen to be appreciated. The young lee
turer responded in a pleasing manner
to the gratifying reception given him,
and proceeded at once with his address.
Unlike MANY scientific lecturers who
derive satisfaction from using long
words when addressing unscientific au-
diences, and leaving them in doubt as
to what is meant, NikoIa Tesla APP
peared to be almost nervousIy anxious
to make himself understood by the
ladies and gentlemen before him, and
those who had read of his marvellous
achievements experienced little diff
Guilty in following his line of thought
throughout the evening.
Before going into the questions of in
candescent and phosphorescent light,
the young Montenegro expert referred
at some length to the connection be-
tween nature and electricity, and to
the boundless force yet undeveloped,
but in the near future, to be brought un-
der the control of man. He passed on to
give very pleasing summary of the
value OF the human eye,. which he COM
pared with the various other senses.
Passing from sight to light the lecturer
said that this brought him right to the
subject he wished to bring before St.
Louis audience. He would abstain, as,
far as possible, from introducing purely
scientific terms, and would, by the aid
of the apparatus which was in view of
the audience, produce a luster in a man.
ner hitherto deemed impossible. Turn
ing to Mr.: Aver, Mr.. Tesla said:
Lights out, please
The order was obeyed instantly, and
for moment there was a slight buzz
of excitement, as the spectators and
listeners found themselves, IN absolute
darkness.
eff have not made mistaa1e;" went
on Mr. Tesla, II will now show you a
phenomena which only scientific men
can appreciate the greatness>of- Pardon
me if do not do all / would wish, be-
cause it is SO difficult to obtain the
proper conditions in a large hall like
this for an experiment of this, delicate
character"
There was pause of few seconds;
Telsa stood, dark and smiling. behind
his rude workbench and with his,
wizard touch made the darkness lurnin-
Gus with the trembling, zigzag flashes
of gold aad blue and purple light. In
the experiment showing the effects,
of electrostratic force a small APP
paratus especially devised for the
purpose was attached to- the electric
current, and Tesla 81 Eed the wires,
with pair of iron pliers. and at once
there enanated from his finger tips a
flimy haze of red and blue fire, and
sparks, leaped from point to point.
strong enough it might be to knock
him down, but not to- KILL" as he
explained, or it wonld interrupt his
experiments. Then trembling lines OF
foggy light were sent streaming from
the apparatus to. brass sphere.
Then two copper plates or disks were
set in action six inches apart and
the light sent in distinct and vivid lines
from one to the other as though at
tached together by molten wires. The
effect was startling in the darkness,
and aided by the ghoulish glee Of the
rumbling dynamo made scene Of apr
palling splendor.
''If the energy had been propelled di-
rectly it would have killed. and If
were to try the experiment of direct
energy you would not be able tosee any
of the interesting things am going to
try and show you" The audience APP
preciated the situation fully and
laughed heartily 1t the remark: and the
laughter was renewed with double
force when some eight or ten of the
gentlemen ON the stage crept quietly
back to their seats, oAt of which they
had evidently been scared during the
mysterious and somewhAt noisy expert
ment This portion Of the lecture was
Of strictly technical character. and