The Dickinson press., 1903-11-07

IdIdlyLCu III CAAOO VI ~
Hours Last Saturday.
Those who were fortunate enough to
the aurora borealis last Friday
were indeed fortunate. 1t Ger.
tainly was one of the grandest exhibit
of natures s%tupendous forces ever
in this part of the country.
about midnight the entire
northern heaven was curtained with an
immense arc Of moving light. Great
waves rolling across the entire arc gave
it the appearance OF vast silken draper
les famed by a gentle breeze. Great
streams of white and colored light shot
far above the arc of light, reaching the
very zenith, and in many cases darling
across the heavens far into the south.
Great white patches of light appeared
floating detached from the main part OF
the display. These patches of light re-
sembled vaporous clouds through which
stars were plainly visible. Starting in
the northwest they slowly passed by the
southeast and disappeared, following
each other in quick succession.
The entire system of the Northern Pa.
cifc and Western Union telegraph COM
panies were p%aralyzed and rendered use
less from midnight until late Saturday
evening. The local telephone circuits
were also affected to some extent by the
strong currents. During the height OF
the electric storm L. H. Rudiselle, chief
operator for the N. P. and wire compan-
les, carried on 4 series of experiments
which, ever 10 the uninitiated, must be
of interest and indicate to them the
mighty forces Of nature, forces which are
but little understood by the most learned.
AT the first opportunity Mr.. Rudisellc
established temporary communication
with the st. Paul office. Conversation
by telegraph was very difficult owing to
| the fierce interference from extraneous
| currents of great strength. He at last
succeeded in getting the St. Paul office to
remove from the wire tine heavy dynamo
currents used in multiple telcgraphy.
This done the wire was then connected
to the ground at St. Paul. The Dickin.
son end of the wire was also removed
from the heavy battery and connected
with the ground in the same manner as
at St. Paul. Batteries cut off at both
ends, yet it was found the wire still con:
tanned ample electricity to work it, and
a long conversation was carried on be
tween Mr.. Rudiselle and the s%uperinten'
dents office 600 miles distant. Measure
ments taken by Mr.. Rudiselle showed q
maximum voltage of 40 volts, the limit
of his instrument. The current showec
a strength of from 80 to IS mil-amperes
much more than is used upon telegraph
wires. Another strange thing was noted
Telegraph wires would indicate oper
wires when they were closed, and agar
they would remain closed when it wa
known that the wire was open. Fir
flashed from the switch board, giving
out electric sparks an inch in length
Lightning arresters were burned out a
il It were lightning instead of the gentl'
"aurora" or northern lights, caused b.
the sun shining on the ice, as Jul fore
fathers had it-and in fact many toda,
have the same idea.
The storm while general over the en-
tire country, in its influence, had its pat
as clearly defined as a river flowing be
tween banks. The tests made by MI
Rudiselle would indicate that the yer
centre Of the storm lay between James
town and Fargo. Tests made at differ
ent times always gave the same result:
From jamestown west the strength grad
ually UcCIcdScu uLlI 0leLoIVC wa
reached. West of that they were quit
feeble but still strong enough to proven
the successful working Of the q%uadruple
system. East of jamestown the force ir
creased until the maximum was reache
between Fargo and Valley City. Tn
great waves Of electricity were, as M
Rudiselle describes it, as clearly marke
and as easily followed as the waves thu
!: roll in from the broad Atlantic durin
? the height of a storm; rising higher an
higher with the increased fury OF tn
storm until the height was reached, the
the waves grow lower, come more an
more with a gentle roll until at last
}, disappears with a'gentle tapping as til
7 ocean waves lap the sandy beach.
ri Mankind does not realize what powe
lies concealed even In natures most 0
binary phenomena. Who eve dreame
of disaster from ~"aurora?" Such a thin
is impossible, apparently; but is il
Q What a little increase in the voltage
. of the current would be necessary
\ ! snuff out all human life at n 1asI
Science has much to learn and teach.