Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-02-11
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.

In General Way IL Is Understood;
but, as Matter Of Fact, the Bolt
From tho Storm In Its Erratio Tend
sneiss Dsfses the investigator.
In a general way we understand the
theory OF thunderstorms. AS a mat
ter OF fact, there Is 10 phenomenon
Of nature, but excepting even earth
quakes, OF which we know so little.
Man-nnude lightning-that is, cleo
tricity of the highest power, which
we can artifcia1y produce-will act
according to certain known laws. It
wifi, for instance, travel along q con-
ductor OF metal.
But a fash OF lightning will fire.
auent 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 fash OF light
ming, says a writer In Pearson's Week
ly. IL is estimated that a fash Of
lightning milo long represents a
pressure of discharge equal to 5000
100000 volts.
As such q flash lasts only about the
thousandth part OF a second the en-
equal to 100000 horsepower. Put In
other words, IL we could ind some
means of saving and using lightning
we should be the richer by good
round sum for every fash.
Lightning Is, as we know, usually
accompanied by peal OF thunder,
which IL louder the nearer the hearer
ts to the point Of tho discharge, but
this II not an invariable 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-
serfbed 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 a freak OF
lightning All OF a sudden "a great
mass OF blue fre" swept along the
street, and hext moment It was seen
that the fine old parish church, built
nearly TOO years ago, had been struck.
The building, with all its flne old
carved oak, was soon a roaring fur
mace, and only part OF the chancel
was saved.
Scientists are still hopeiessly 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
IRE and drifted into a shed, where II
exploded. blowing the roof off the
place.
At Rheims. In France, a similar fire
ball came into cobbler's shop
through the open window. The soli-
tery occupant OF the place sat perfect
ly stiil, paralyzed with terror, while
his fearful visitant lowered for sever
Al seconds overhead. Then 1t moved
toward the fireplace and presently
passed up the chimney.
Next moment there was an expio-
sien like q sheE 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 q house on Lake Wiener, In Sweden,
when just after vivid nash Of light
ming a brilliant white ball appeared
over the table and after hanging poised
there Ter some seconds went OF with
with a loud bang.
Fortunately It did no harm to any
enc. although It was quite close to
several people. Those who saw it sug-
gested 1t WAS like ball Of cold light
ming.
In November, 1902, Sydney, Austria
liza, was visited by a terrific dust
storm, IN the midst OF which a perfect
rain OF electric q balls began to fall.
These set fire to number Of houses,
and 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 a mountain In the
Caucasus when a 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.