The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-01

lists and his latest invention will be
 noted with great interest both in this
 country and in the scientific circles of | Europe.
 In the meteorological observatory on
 the tower of the college building on Jersey street Father Odenbach has set
 up an instrument which records every 1 flash of lightning within a radius of nearly one hundred miles. The appa-
 ratus is extremely complicated and not
 easy of comprehension to one who has
 not scientific education. The theory, | however, is the same as that of the
 Marconi wireless telegraphy The 1 electric waves, coming from great | distance or from near at hand, are col | lected and brought through a series of delicate appliances to recorder,
 which notes each impression With a distinct click, similar to the click of a telegraph instrument.
 Tie tower of St. Ignatius college is rooted with plate copper This forms
 an excellent "co,lector" for the cleo tric rays Connected with this copper
 roofel tower is the lightning r cd,
 which is a copper cable. When Father
 Odenbach first conceived the idea of
 working out his theory he noted that
 the tower was just suitable for his purpose. He accordingly had the lightning rod cut off and directed through the observatory instead of leading tc the ground On this rod he fixed his delicats recording nstru- ments, and was highly pleased to note that they worked exactly as he had expected.
 Father Odenbach was not entirely satisfied, however, as in case of q bolt striking the lightning rod it would be conducted directly through the obser- vatory, destroy all the apparatus and probably kill whoever was present. He accordingly reset the lightning rod, and conducted only small thread of the cable through the receiving and recording apparatus He found that this worked exactly as we'll and also obviated all danger of accident
 Cleveland was visited by it's first electric storm of the season Tuesday Hours before the storm broke when the sky was absolutely clear and no sign of lightning anywhere to be seen the instrument was busy clicking off its record of flashes from distant clouds. During the approach, dura- | ton and recession of the storm the re- cord continued accurate and unbroken, | every flash being instantaneously re- | corded, and the records continuing { long after the flashes had become too [ distinct to be visible. All day yestar- day the instrument was busy with its f recording, although scarcely a flash was visible
 Father Cdanbach's invention is abso- lutely unicue in America, and the first | lightning recorder ever devised or set up on this side of the Atlantic. An k Italian named Bogglo has worked out a scheme for the same purpose, but in practical working the instrument of Father Odenbach's is far superior in every rescect.s
 Father Odenbach believes that Ia Lightning recorder will become an lm- portant instrument for meteorological { onces It will enable observers to note with certainty the approach of thun- fer storms and squalls, local distur- oances which it is impossible for any 'orecaster to predict with accuracy.
 The instrument as at present arr 1 ,anged records by sound only Father i 0denbach Is at work upon mechapi- ,al appliance by which the record will ,e automatically placed on pape.'. thus endering 1t unnecessary to watch the instrument in order to get continuous bservations-Cla Plain Dealer. 1
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