Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-28
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY.
This Phenomenon of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.

Puzzle to Science.
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 hghtning-that is, cleo
trictty of the highest power, which
we can artiBciaIly produce-will act
according to certain known laws. 1t
viii, for instance, travel along a con-
ductor OF metal.
But fash 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 a dash of light
ming, sayS a writer in Pearson's Week
ly. 1t IS estimated that a fash of
lightning a mile long represents a
pressure of discharge equal to 3.00O,-
100000 volts.
AS such a fash lasts only about the
thousandth part OF second the en-
ergy dissipated by the discharge is
equal to 100000 horsepower. Put in
Dther words. If we could find some
means Of saving and using lightning
we should be the richer by a good
round sum for every fash.
Lightning is, as we know, usually
accompanied by peal of thunder,
which IS louder the nearer the hearer
is to the point OF the discharge, but
this is not an invariable rule. There
are cases on record of most destruc-
tive lightning flashes which were IN
accompanied by sound.
Such a 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 a sudden "a great
mass Of blue fire" swept along the
street, and next moment It was seen
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 a part of the chancel
was saved.
Scientists are still hopeIessIy at sea
as to the cause OF that peculiar phe-
nomenon known as globe lightning. At
Coventry some years ago during a VIC
lent thunderstorm 1t passed along a
street like a soap bubble built of blue
fire and drtfted into a shed, where 1t
exploded, blowing the roof or the
place.
At Rheims, in France, similar fire
bail came into a cobbler's shop
through the open window. The soil
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 q similar freak Of |
He was sitting at dinner |
at house on Lake Wiener. in Sweden, !
when just after a vivid flash of light |
ming a brilliant white ball appeared |
Dver the table and after hanging poised |
IACAc 1OI SOlue ScCOHOS Welt Oh Will
with loud bang
Fortunately it did no harm to any |
one. although it was quite close to
several people. Those who saw it sug
gested it was like a ball Of cold light
ming.
In November. 1902, Sydney. Austria
liza, was visited by q terrific dust
storm. in the midst Of which a perfect
rain of electric q e balls began to fall.
These set FIRE to a number of houses,
and most appalling panic set in. A
Try was raised that the end of the
world was at hand, and people rushed
out OF their houses into the ink black,
lust deep streets.
The most amazing and terrifying
displays of the power of lightning are
seen on mountains. In 1890 a party
vas on the top Of a mountain in the
Caucasus when a huge violet ball, sur
'ounded by vivid rays, struck a rock
lear by and, exploding like a bomb.
'urst into atoms. One OF the party
vas badly hurt