The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-03
SILENT THUNDERBoLTs.
Curious Facts About storms-Sources
of Terror and Great Damage.

of Terror and Great Damage.
From Persons Weekly.
In general way we understand the
theory OF thunderstorms. As a matter Of
fact, there is no phenomenon of nature.
not excepting even earthquakes. of which
We know so little
Man-made iightning-that IS, electricity
of the highest power which we can aFtiA-
cialiy produce-will act according to GER
tain known laws. It Will. for instance,
travel along condueto, of metal.
But flash Of lightning will frequently
leap from a well-defined metal path and
launch itself through the air or some ad-
jaeent object which is an infinitely poorer
conductor.
This may be due to the almost tncon-
ceivabie force of fash of lightning 1t
is estimated that a flash Of lightning
mile long represents a pressure of dis
charge equal to 5000. 600 600 volts
AS such a flash lasts only about the
tnousandth part of a second the energy
dissipated by the discharge is equal to
SO0,O0 horsepower. Put it In other words,
If we could find some means Of saving
richer by e2Oo for every flash.
lightning is. as we know, usually ac-
companied by peal of thunder, which is
louder the nearer the hearer is to the
point Of the discharge; but this is not an
inYariable rule. There are cases on rec
ord OF most destructive lightning flashes
which were unaeeompanied BY sound.
Such PHENOMENON occurred at Brad
ford sonae years ago. What is described
as "a silent thunderbolt' fell in a grave
yard, destroying one monument and
smashing to atoms nearly seventy glass
cases containing wreaths and flowers
IN the same summer Swanscombe in
Kent, was terrified by a freak of light
ming. 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 700 years ago had
been struck.
The building with all its fine old carved
oak was soon a roaring furnace and only
a part Of the chancel was saved.
Scientists are sun hopelessly at sea as
TO the cause of that peculiar phenomenon
known as globe lightning. At Coventry
some years ago during a violent thunder
storm il passed along a street like soap
bubble built OF blue fire and drifted into
a shed, where it exploded. blowing the
roof of the place
At Reims, IN France, a similar fireball
came into cobbler's shop through the
open window. The solitary occupant Of
the place sat perfectly stim. paralyzed
with terror. while his fearful vlsitant
lowered for several seconds overhead.
Then it moved toward the fireplace and
presently passed Up the chimney
Next moment there was an explosion
like a shell bursting and the upper 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 a house on
Lake Wiener in Sweden, when just after
a vivid fash OF lightning a brilliant white
ball appeared over the table. and after
hanging poised there for some seconds
went off with loud bang.
Fortunately II did no harm TO any one,
1t was quite close to several peo-
pie Those who saw It suggested it was
like a ball OF cold lightning.
In November. 1902. Sydney, Australia. /
was visited by terrific duststorm. in /
the midst OF which a perfect rain OF cleo /
trio fireballs 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 1
and people rushed out OF their houses /
into the INK black. dust deep streets.
The most amazing and terrifying dis /
plays of the power of lightning are seem
on mountainous. In 1890 a party were /
On the top of mountain in the eau
causes when a huge violet ball, surrounded /
by vivid rays. struck a rock near by and /
exploding like bomb. burst it to atoms. |
One of the party was badly hurt