The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-04

Some of the young people of Washing
ton of an inquiring turn of mind have
been studying up the y ray on their own
hook, so 20 speak. reading the literature
on the subject, commencing as far back
rs Crooke's lecture before the British AS
ISOLATION in 1879, which he illustrated
fully with his own tubes that have re-
Gently become the subject OF so much dis
cussiOn.
Among those who have devoted great
deal of time to this invention are Miss
Alice Wasserbach and Fred Reichenbach
These younger students can now claim a
share of the honor because of the recent
discovery 10y Fred Reichenbach of the
new y ray.
Mr. Reichenhach has spent much of the
last three years in electoral investiga-
tion. This has been desultory, swayed
by his passing interest until the up
heaval in the scientific world occasioned
by Roentgen's discovery Then the chan
mel secured 50 thoroughly by such scicn-
fists as Edison, Telsa and Mcfarland
Moore was entered by this ambitious
youth, who was TO find what older and
more famous explorers had overlooked
The first inklng of this ray was while
reading an article in the Metropolitan
Magazine concerning the progress of
scientists in this direction. Reference
was made to a belief that there was light
about the poles of n magnet. This.
the article declared. lis not true"
After the manner of the present in
credulouS generation, Mr. Reichcnbach
presumed to doubt this statement.
Hardly hoping for success. he placed a
piece of perforated brass on the poles of
two-inch horseshoe magnet, then Oh
this a piece of sentized paper. The col
lection was held in place by the attrac-
tion existing between the magnet and
an armaturc placed next the paper The
magnet and its companions were placed
in box, all light was excluded and time
was relied upon to do the work
The apparatus had been arranged i'm
the evening; after Il nights exposure the
paper presented to the eye "A perfect image
OF the perforated metal. OF course Mr..
Reichenbach was iubilHut over hi, sue
cess. and all his friends. young and old to-
gether rejoiced with him
Then long search began in literature
dealing on the subject of the y ray to
find if NJ. keichenbach was really first in
the field. Now the decision has been
reached that he is At first SIGHT this may
not seem so important thing. but when
it is remembered how the Rocntgen rays
''iN pioNAt''N!' but HAHtlldEtS III Inc new
method will he seen
With the Roentgen rays it i necessary
to have Crooke's tube and an induction
coil, which are not always accessible to
the student With this newly discovered
process all that is necessary is a simple
horseshoe magnet. The very simplicity OF
the apparatus makes this method the
more noteworthy, especially if there is nc
doubt that it can he applied to greater cx-
periments than the photographing OF
small objects.
Professor Gates was interviewed upon
this subject at his laboratory ut Chevy
Chase and his reception of it was very
gratifying to Mr.. Reichenbach and his
friends as Professor Gates is one of the
foremost electricians and scientists in the
world. 81 am very much interested in
your discovery he said, and | will as
sist you in any way that / can If YOU
wish it, will magnetic large bar OF
steel for You TO use, and you are welcome
to my dark room to try your excriment,
in"
Mr.. Reichenbach will probably avail