Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-04
WILL USE EARTH CURRENTS
Nicola Tesla Announce Discovery Of Great
Importance.
Can Produce nm Electrical Impulse
ly Throughout the World.

Nicola Tesla announced in New York
yesterday the completion of his latest dis
covery-the simultaneous transmission OF
messages by means of the earth's electrical
currents to as many scattered points on
the surface of the globe as may be desired.
This he regards as by far his greatest
achievement. He will follow his usual
custom and lay his information before the
world of science in his own words and ac-
companied by his own computations and
conclusions
To few intimates he gave a thrilling
description of the operation of his device
for arresting and suhjecting to control
under natural laws the electrical sub
stances in and about the earth. His lat
est Invention, device or discovery is to
produce such a disturbance of the electricity
or the earth which can he felt and noted
simultaneously at all parts of the globe. -.
Tesla had his rooms in the laboratory
on Houston street darkened. From a room
adjoining the one in which he and his
visitors stood current was turned on
invisibiy: huge black disk hung on "A
the center of which protruded a brass
eiectrode seven inches in diameter.
Like Rattle of Musketry.
AS the group gazed at this the apartment
was filled with cracking sound, which
increased till it sounded like the rattle OF
musketry Bright flames shot from the
electrode, not from pole to pole as In ordi-
nary demonstrations
Like fiery serpents the wavy coils of
flame darted in graceful lines 81 ound the
disk The longest sparks were fully eight
feet from the point when they burst into
dazzling brilliancy to the vanishing point
These electrical sparks were undoubtedly
the longest flashes of light ever produced
by similar means
1t seemed like terrific lightning display
with the swapping, cracking sound dis
playing the reverberation of heavens artil-
lery, too. All remarked the weird and
awning effect of the exhibition.
What are you ooing?" was asked Tesla.
Il am producing" said he IAN electrical
disturbance of intense magnitude, which is
continuing throughout the entire earth.
In other words. L an producing a disturb
ance of the earth's charge of electricity
which can be felt to the uttermost parts
of the earth.''
And the result will be?'
All, said Tesla, his face lighting up
and his spare figure vibrant with pride and
enthusiasm, that is almost Incompetent
sible. This electrical disturbance by means
of certain simple Instruments can be felt
and appreciated at any point of the globe.
In TINS way messages can be sent to- the
entire earth around and be taken up at
any part of the earth without the aid or
Intervention of wires in any way at ALL"
What is the voltage?" Tesla was asked.
He motioned expressively with his long
finger and said quietly:
Voltage Beyond Computation.
CAS- far as voltage is concerned, that
is almost beyond computation. Yet, let
me tell you, 1 stood in front of that flame
and had that charge shot through me and
experienced no unpleasant sensation.
Dangerous? Yes, it is dangerous, and
l shall not repeat the experiment, for it
exposes the blood to a terrific tension In
those tongues of living flame touched an
artery and it burst, in an instant one would
be bloodless and lifeless.'
Practically, then, if. say. Queen Victoria
were to die, and these instruments for
picking up and approaching the vibrating
ether were in place, a message could be
sent simultaneously to every quarter OF
the British empire and all her subjects ap-
prised of her demisew
Precisely; the shock transmitted from
the sending point would be appreciable any
where on earth. This is my greatest and
latest discovery. which 1 intend to give to
the scientific world soon as my data,
ranged"