The representative., 1901-06-20
RECORDS THE LIGHTNING.
A Priests Device which Gets Every
Flash Within q Hundred Miles.

Priests Device Which Gets Every
Flash Within y Hundred Miles.
A very important achievement has been
added to the recent Developments OF cleo
trical and meteorological science by Faith
er Odenbach. Of st. Ignatius college This
Cleveland priest has long been recognized
as occupying foremost place 'amcDg
American scientists and his latest inyen-
tion 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 IT,
strument which records every flash of light
ming within radius of nearly 100 miles,
The apparatus 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 Marconf
wireless telegraphy. The electric waves,
coming from a great distance or from near
at hand. are collected and brought through
a series of delicate appliances to a re-
corder. which notes each impression with q
distinct click, similar to the click of a
telegraph instrument.
The tower Of st. Ignatius college is
rooted with plate copper. This forms an
CAC0IACAI' COAICCtOI 1OF LuO 0IGCJTlC rays.
connected with this. copper rooted tower is
the lightning rod, which Is copper cable
When Father Odenbach first conceived tho
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 OBJ
servatory, instead of leading to the ground
On this rod he fixed his delicate recording
instruments and was highly pleased to note
that they worked exactly as he had ex-
pected
Father Odenbach was not entirely satis-
fed, however. as in case of bolt striking
the lightning rod it would be conducted
directly through the observatory, destroy
all the apparatus and probably kill who
ever was present. He accordingly reset
the lightning rod and conducted only q
small threat of the cable through the re-
ceiving and recording instruments. He found
that this worked exactly as well and also
obviated all danger of accident.
Cleveland was visited by it's first electric
storm Of the season Tuesday Hours be-
fore the storm broke, when the sky was
absolutely clear and no sign of lightning
anywhere to be seen, tn instrument WAS
busy clicking off its record of fasheB frora
distant clouds During the approach dura-
continued accurate and unbrohen, eS1Fx
fash being iffstan ianeousfy recorded attl
the records continuing long after the nash-
es had become too distant to be visibae
All day yesterday the instrument was busy
with its recording, although scarcely fiasb
was visible.
Father Odenbach's invention is absolutely
unique in America, and the first lightning
recorder ever devised or set up on this
side Of the Atlantic. An Italian named
Boggio has worked out a scheme for the
same purpose, but in practical working the
instrument of Father Odenbach's is far
superior In every respect.
Father Odenbach believes that a lightning
recorder will become an important instru-
ment for meteorological Offices. 1t will en-
able observers to note with certainty the
approach of thunder storms and squalls,
local disturbances which it is impossible
for any forecaster to predict with accuracy
The instrument as at present arranged
records by sound only. Father Odenbach
Ia at work upon a mechanical appliance by
which the record will be automatically
placed on paper, thus rendering it unneces-
sary to watch the instrument In order to
get continuous observations. - Cleveland
Plain Dealer.