The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-08-29
A LIGHTNING RECORDER.
Ingenious Invention of a Cleveland
Priest Performs Scientific
Wonders.

A very important achievement has
been added to the recent develop
ments of electrical and meteorolog-
zeal science by Father Odenbach, of
st. Ignatius college. This Cleveland
priest has long been recognized as
occupying a foremost place among
American scientists, and his latest in
vention will be noted with great in
terest both in this country and in the
scientific circles of Europe, says the
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
In the meteorological observatory on
the tower of the college building in
Jersey street, Father Odenbach has
set up an instrument which records
every flash of lightning within a ra-
dius of nearly 100 miles. The APP
paratus 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 teleg-
raphy. The electric waves, coming
from a great distance or from near at
hand, are collected and brought
through a series of delicate appli-
ances to recorder, which notes each
impression with a distinct click, SIM
liar to the click of telegraph instru-
ment.
The tower of st. Ignatius college is
rooted with plate copper. This forms
an excellent collector" for the cleo
trio rays. Connected with this cop
per rooted tower is the lightning rod,
which is copper cable. When Fa-
Their Odenbach first conceived the
idea of working out his theory he
noted that the tower was just suit
able for his purpose. He accordingly
had the lightning rod cut off and di-
rected through the observatory in
stead of leading to the ground On
this rod he fixes his delicate record
ing instruments, and was highly
pleased to note that they worked eX-
actly as he had expected.
Father Odenbach was not entirely
satisfied, however, as in case of a
bolt striking the lightning rod it
would be conducted directly through
the observatory, destroy all the APP
paratus and probably kill whoever
was present He accordingly reset
the lightning rod, and conducted only
a small thread cable through the re-
ceiving and recording apparatus. He
found that this worked exactly as
well, and also obviated all danger of
accident.
One day lately Cleveland was visit
ed by its first electric storm of the
season. Hours before the storm
broke, when the sky was absolutely
clear and no sign of lightning any
where to be seen, the instrument was
busy clicking off it's record of flashes
from distant clouds. During the APP
proach, duration and recession of the
storm the record continued accurate
and unbroken, every flash being in
simultaneously recorded, and the rec
ords continuing after the flashes had
become too distant to be visible. All day
the instrument was busy with its re-
cording, although scarcely flash was
visible.
Father Odenbachs invention is alb
SOluJely unique III AHlefIcds anu inc
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
lightning recorder will become an i'm
portant instrument for meteorological
offices. 1t will enable observers to note
with certainty the approach of thun-
derstorms and squalls, local distNrb-
ances which it is impossible for any
forecaster to predict with accuracy.
The instrument as at present ar
ranged records by sound only. Father
Odenbach is at work upon a mechan-
ical appliance by which the record will
be automatically placed on paper, thus
rendering it unnecessary to watch the
instrument in order to get continuous
observations.