The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-22
They Will Give Realistic and Startling Portrayal
Of a Thunderstorm With Vivid Lightning Accom-
panying The Current For This Electrical Dis
play Will Come From Niagara and Is the
Result Of a Remarkable Invention.
Niagara Illuminated by SearchlightS - Glorious numl-
nations About the Court Of Fountains
of the Exposition
BY oRRIN E. DUNLAP.

surface of a large sheet OF glass. When
the potential is low, each letter OF the
sign is surrounded by a violet fringe of
brush discharge, and as the voltage IS
raised lively, strange and brilliant
Wriggling streamers of lightning shoot
out about the letters like a lot of roots.
an effect faithfully portrayed in the IL
Illustrations. These vary in length as
the voltage is increased and form a
truly dazzling halation and effect At
this period of the operation each flame
or streak of lightning is about a foot in
length. 1t is when the full voltage is
on that the display becomes exceeding
~ lively Then the number of complete
discharges is $50 a second, a complete
discharge being portrayed in each of
the darts of lightning surrounding the
word Niagara" in the illustration.
Just think of $50 flashes of lightning ev-
cry second! Conceive, if you can, wit
Messing such a display by nature and
then think of what man has done to
develop such a condition for the safe
entertainment and enlightenment of the
people.
Humanity is not given. to standing
out in the storm to witness a thunder
and lightning display. but this Pan
American exhibition of artificial thun-
der and lightning viii not be accompa-
MED by ralnstorm unless, of course,
nature adds to the reality of the spec
tacle by furnishing a downpour.
Thunder is understood to be a com
motion of the air brought about by the
passage of electricity. When storms
are in progress, people standing at diff
ferent points hear different sounds A
person close to a flash of lightning
hears only one sharp report, while per
sons at distance hear the same report
as a prolonged peal. The prolonged
rolling of the thunder and the rise and
fall of the sound are hard to account
for
All of these storm effects are appar-
ent in the device of Mr.. Skinner but
never yet have human eyes looked
upon such a fierce display of lightning
as he has made possible of development
through his wizardlike machine. Be
fore the electric current is turned on
the apparatus appears like a simple
sheet of glass, peaceful and quiet But
when the current is furnished there is
wonderful Transformation The let
tiers become surrounded with hue re-
sembling the effect of sheet lightning
behind a cloud. and soon the wriggling
snakelilxe bolts of lightning shoot out
here and there They dart hitler and
thither, and the fierce. frightfulIy real
istlc, full discharges of lightning occur
with a frequency that is tremendously
appalling. It is so weird, so fascinat-
ing, so grand. that one becomes .accus-
toned to the sharp flashes of lightning
and the thunder peals and in fancy
feels the wind sweeping, roaring along,
uprooting sturdy oaks by their stormy
blasts. Surely this artificial thunder
and lightning will demonstrate thor
oughly how Niagara has electrified the
Pan-American Exposition.