New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
LIGHTNING AND ELECTRIC LAMPS.
A CURIOUS PHENOMENON DETECTED BY PHO
BIOGRAPHY IN THUNDERSTORM.

BIOGRAPHY IN A THUNDERSTORM.
somewhat puzzling revelation has just been
made regarding the effect lightning upon ordinary
electric lights by Sydney Webb. of Dover England.
He describes IL in Nature During series Of
thunderstorms he exposed Photographic plates.
When his plates were developed they exhibited, in
addition to the lightning. number of other lumi-
streaks, each OF which appeared 10 emanate
from the electric lights which in his field of
view.
The course pursued by the streaks irregular
and sinuous. In some instances they seemed to
proceed from the lamp to the earth, first reaching
sidewise and then downward. In other cases they
made an excursion outward and then returned TO
the lamp. Some of the photographs of Mr.. Webb
were taken after the season had arrived in Dover
for suppementing the lights with festoons Of
incandescent lamps. But 1t from the former
only that the luminous streaks proceeded. Under
certain circumstances 1t noticed that chain
of dots or beads appeared In the photograph. and
continuous line
The facts having been brought to the attention OF
Sir George Stokes that we'll known English physi-
cist offers possible explanation. He thinks that
the phenomenon OF wireless telegraphy has par
ael here The distant lightning flash acts like the
Marconi transmitter. and sets Up lot of electro
magnetic waves In the ether At the lamp there is
conceivably situation like that at the 'coherer"
trcitS seen 70 mass from one carbon to the other
The pressure is not altogether relieved by the
leave a little strain The feeble remnant of current
could pass through the surrounding air ordi-
naTily, but under the stimulus of the magnetic
the air may yield. This supplementary flow
may take place along an irregular line such as is
shown by the luminous lines in Mr. Webbs pictures
Sir George does not insist strongly on the accu-
racy OF this theory. and admits that he himself
difficulties attending It. However. until bet
ter can be offered 1t will command attention.
The story reminds of certain effects of
lightning mentioned by DIR. oliver Lodge. a promi-
cases In which flash of lightning induced entirely
independent currents in iron work in a house. And
as, in his opinion, stroke of lightning IL oSC-
atory performance, the induced currents also
to and fro with terrific velocity In one instance
spark from a gas pipe produced that set fire
to its surroundings and led serious loss DR.
Lodge holds that dangerous state OF things exists
much iron or steel, unless the metal is suitably
grounded. If mischlevous currents be induced
in an electrical conductor in this manner one may
be pardoned for imagining that a considerable dis
turbance may be created by induction in existing
currents, like those OF electric light plant. What
ever be the correct explanation of the observed
facts. ii is be hoped that Mr. Webbs experiments
IL only because he could not easily avoid
doing that the Englishman included the arc
lights in his picture n special effort should now
be made TO have two three OF them in the
same field with the sky when photogra phing thun-
derbolts. When one first hears this story Won
ders why he never saw any such streaks around
an arc light as are here depicted. Mr.. Webb says.
however, that he never observed anything of the
kind until he had obtained these remarkable piCt-
ureS. Since then he has witnessed the phenom-
enon Sir George Stokes accepts the testimony of
the pictures without protest, and suggests that
during thunderstorm II would probably be wise
10 keep away from the neighborhood of arc lights.