Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-01-26
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.
In a General Way II Is Understood;
but, as Matter of Fact, the Eolt
From the Storm In lts Erratic Tend
encies Dcfies tho Investigator.


From the Storm In lts Erratio Tend
eneies Defies tho Investigator.
In a general way we understand the
theory of thUnderstorms. AS mat
ter of fact, there is no phenomenon
OF nature, but excepting even earth
quakes, of which we know so little.
Man-madc lishtning-th is. cleo
tricity of the highest power, which
we can artlficially produce-will act
according TO certain known laws. II
will. for instance. travel along n con-
ductor of metal.
But fash OF lightning will fire.
quent leap from well defined metal
path and launch itself through the air
or some adjacent object which is an
infinitely poorer conductor.
This may be due to the almost in
conceivable force of flash OF light
ming, says a writer in Pearson's Week
ly. 1t is estimated that n fash of
lightning mile long represents n
pressure of discharge equal to 5000
100000 volts.
AS such n flash lasts only about the
thousandth part of second the en-
ergy dissipated by the discharge IS
equal to 100000 horsepower. Put in
other words, If we could find some
means of saving and using lightning
we should be the richer 10y good
round sum for every flash.
Lightning is, as we know, usually
accompanied by n peal of thunder.
which is louder the nearer the nearer
Is to the point of the discharge, but
this is not an invariablc rule. There
are cases on record of most destruc-
tive lightning flashes which were I'M
accompanied by sound.
Such phenomenon occurred ut Brad
ford some years ago. What is dc
scribed as "A silent thunderbolt" fell
in a graveyard, destroying one monu-
ment and smashing to atoms nearly
seventy glass cases containing wreaths
and flowers.
In the same summer SwanScOmbe,
in Kent. was terrified by freak of
lightning. All of a sudden "a great
mass of blue fire" swept along the
street, and next moment it was seer
that the fine old parish church. built
nearly 200 years ago, had been struck
The building. with all its fine old
carved oak. WAS soon n roaring fur
mace, and only part OF the chance
| was saved.
Scientists are still hopelesSly at SEES
as to the cause OF that peculiar phe
nomenon known as globe lightning. \
Coventry some years ago during VIC
lent thunderstorm it passed along 4
street like soap bubble built OF blu,
fire and drifted into n shed. where i
exploded, blowing the roof OF III,
place.
At Rheims. in France, n similar fir,
ball came into cobbler's shoI
through the open window. The soil
tary occupant OF the place sat perfect
ly still, paralyZed with terror, Will
his fearful visitant lowered for sever
al seconds overhead. Then 1t move,
toward the fireplace and present.!
passed up the chimney.
Next moment there was an eXplC
sion like n shell bursting. and the VI
per part of the chimney came crashin
down.
Not long ago Count c. Hamilto
!. made record Of Il similar freak o
. electricity. He was sitting ut Dime
|
. when just after vivid fash of ligh
ming brilliant white ball appearc
over the table and after hanging poisc
there for some seconds went off wit
with a loud bang.
Fortunately it did no harm to an
one, although 1t was quite close {
several people. Those who saw it su:
gested it was like ball of cold ligh
ming.
In November, 1902, Sydney, Austr
liza, was visited by terrific du
storm, in the midst Of which perfe,
rain of electric Fl e balls began to IA
These set fire to n number of house
and a most appalling panic set in.
cry was raised that the end of IL
world was at hand, and people rusht
out of their houses into the ink blac
dust deep streets.
The most amazing and terrifyir
displays of the power of lightning a
seen on mountains. In 1890 par
was on the top of a mountain in Il
Caucasus when a huge violet ball. su
rounded by vivid rays, struck a ro,
near by and, exploding like bonn
burst into atoms. One OF the par
was badly hurt.