The Press., 1910-06-15
LIGHTNINGA MYSTERY
This Phenomenon of Nature ls a
 Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.

In General Way It Is undsrstoody
 but, as a Matter of Fact, the Bolt
 From the Storm In lta Erratio Tond-
 oncies Defies the investigator.
 In general way we understand the theory of thunderstOrms. As a mat ter of fact there is no phenomenon of nature, but excepting even earth Quakes, of which we know so little.
 Man-made lightning is, cleo tricity of the highest power, which we can artif1cially produce-will act according to certain known laws. It will, for instance, travel along a con- ductor of metal
 But flash of lightning will fire Quent leap from a 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 q flash of light ming, says writer in Pearsons Week ly. It is estimated that a flash of lightning a mile long represents a pressure of discharge equal to 8,O00,- 100000 volts.
 As such flash lasts only about the thousandth part of a 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 by a good round sum for every flash.
 Lightning is, as we know, usually accompanied by peal of thunder, which is louder the nearer the heaeer is to the point of the discharge, but this is not an inyariable rule. There are cases on record of most destruc- tive lightning flashes which were un- accompanied by sound.
 Such phenomenon occurred at Brad ford some years ago. What is de 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 sudden "a great mass of blue fire" swept along the 
 that the fine old parish church, built nearly 700 years ago, had been struck.
 The building. with all its fine old carved oak, was soon a roaring fur mace. and only part of the chancel was saved.
 Scientists are still hopelessly at sea as to the cause of that peculiar phe nomenon known as globe lightning. At Coventry some years ago during viO- lent thunderstorm it passed along a street like soap bubble built of blue fire and drifted into shed. where 1t exploded, blowing the roof of the place.
 At Rheims, in France, similar fire ball came into a cobbler's shop through the open window. The soli- tary occupant of the place sat perfect ly still, paralyzed with terror, while his fearful visitant lowered for sever al seconds overhead. Then it moved toward the fireplace and presently passed up the chimney.
 Next moment there was an explo- sion like a shell bursting, and the up- per part of the chimney came crashing down.
 Not long ago Count G. Hamilton made a record of a similar freak of electricity. He was sitting at dinner at house on Lake Wener. in Sweden, when just after a vivid fash of light ming a brilliant white ball appeared over the table and after hanging poised there for some seconds went o6G with with loud bang.
 Fortunately it did no harm to any one. although 1t was quite close to several people. Those who saw 1t sng- gested 1t was like ball of cold light ming.
 In November, 1902, Sydney, Austra- lia, was visited by a terrific dust storm, in the midst of which a perfect rain of electric fl balls began to fall These set fire to a number of houses, and a most appalling panic set in. A cry was raised that the end of the world was at hand, and people rushed out of their houses into the ink black, dust deep streets.
 The most amazing and terrifying displays of the power of lightning are seen on mountains, In 1890 a party was on the top of mountain in the Caucasus when huge violet ball, sur rounded by vivid rays, struck a rock near by and, exploding like a bomb, burst into atoms One of the party was badly hurt.