Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-22
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon Of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.

buts aS y mattoF " FaSht t0o 6ota
From tho Storm In Its Erratio Tend
eneies pefies the Investigator.
In general way we understand the
theory Of thunderstorms. As mat
ter OF fact. there Is no phenomenon
" nature. but excepting even earth
quakes, Of which we know SO little.
Man-made lightning THAT Is. cleo
tricity OF the highest power. which
we can artIficially produce-will act
according TO certain known laws. It
will, for instance. travel along con-
ductor OF metal.
But n fash OF lightning will fire.
quent leap from "a well defined metal
path and launch itself through the air
or some adjacent object which IL 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
~. II Is estimated that fash of
lightning mile long represents
pressure Of discharge equal to 3.000.-
100000 volts.
AS such fash lasts only about the
thousandth part OF second the en-
ergy dIssipatcd by the discharge Is
equal 10 100000 horsepower. Put In
other words. II we could find some
means Of saving and using lightning
we should be the richer by good
round sum for every fash.
Lightning In, AS We know. usually
at .l Inv M fhnnhAP
which IL louder the nearer the nearer
Is to the point of the discharge. but
this Is not IN invariable rule. There
are cases on record of most destrnc-
tive lightning flashes which were UNI
accompanied by sound.
Such phenomenon occurred at Brad
ford some years ago. What is de-
scribed as "a silent thunderbolt" fell
In 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 n freak of
lightning. All OF sudden "a great
mass OF blue fire" swept along tho
ntEtets anu ucAt IL WIS SCtu
that the fine old parish church. built
nearly 700 years ago. had been struck
The building. with all its nne old
carved oak. was soon roaring fur
GAGE. and only q part OF the chancel
was saved.
Scientists are still hopelessly ut sea
ms TO the cause Of that peculiar phe
nomenonN known rs globe lightning. At
Coventry some years ago during vio-
lent thunderstorm II passed along a
street like soap bubble built Of blue
fire and driftcd into "a shed. where II
exploded. blowing the roof or the
place. ~
At Rheims. In France. n similar fire
ball came into cobblcr's shop
through the open window. The soil
tary occupant Of the place sat perfect
~ still. paralyzed with terror. while
his fearful visitant lowered for sever
al seconds overhead. Then II moved
toward the fireplace and presently
passed up the chimney.
Next moment there was an explo-
sion like shell bursting. and the up
per part OF the chimney came crashing
down.
Not long ago Count G. Hamilton
made record of a similar freak Of
electricity. lie was sitting nj dinner
at house on Lake Wiener. In Sweden.
when just after vivid fash Of light
ming a brilliant white ball appeared
over the table and after hanging poised
there for some seconds went of with
with a loud bang.
Fortunately II did no harm to any
one. although II was quito close TO
several people. Those who saw Il sug-
gcsted II was like ball OF cold light
ming.
In November. 1902. sydney. Austria
LA. was visited by terrific dust
storm. IN the midst Of which perfect
rain OF electric Il balls began TO fall.
These set Dire TO number of houses.
and most appalling panic set In A
cry was raised that the end Of the
world was NJ hand. and people rushed
out OF their houses into the Ink black.
dust deep streets.
The most amazing aud terrifying
displays Of the power OF lightning are
seen ON mountains. In 1880 y party
was on the top Of a mountain In tho
Caucasus when huge violet ball. sur
rounded by vivid rays. struck a rock
near by and. exploding Ike bomb.
burst into atoms. One Of the party
was badly hurt.