The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-02-17
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon of Nature Is a
Puzzle 10 Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.
In q General Way Il Is Understood;
but, as q Matter Of Fact. the Bolt
From the Storr, In lts Erratie Tend
sneiss Defses the investigator.

sneiss Defses the Investigator.
In a 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-that is. cleo
tricity of the highest power, which
we can artincially produce-wil act
according 70 certain known laws. IL
VIII. for instance. travel along a con
ductor OF metal
But a dash 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 fash OF light
ming. says writer in Pearson's Week
~. 1t is estimated that a flash OF
Lightning a mile long represents a
pressure Of discharge equal to 5000
10000 volts
AS such a dash lasts only about the
thousandth part OF second the en-
ergy dissipated by the Discharge is
equal to 10000 horsepower. Put In
other words. IL we could dnd some
means OF saving and using lightning
we should be the richer by good
round sum for every dash.
Lightning *. as we know. usually
accompanied by n 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 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 a 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 fue old parish church. built
nearly 200 years ago. had been struck.
The building. with all its tine old
carved oak. was soon a roaring fur
mace. and only a part Of the chancel
was saved.
Scientists are sim hopelessly at sea
as TO the cause Of that peculiar phe-
nomenou known as globe lightning. At
! Coventry some years ago during u VIC
lent thunderstorm IL passed along n
street like a soap bubble built OF blue
fire and drifteG iuto n shed. where it
exploded. blowing the roof OF the
place.
At Rheims, in France. similar fire
bail came into cObbler's shop
through the open window. The soil
tary occupant OF the place sat perfect
ly still. paralyzed with terror. while
bis 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 a shell bursting. and the up
per part OF the chimney came crashing
down.
Not long ago Count G. Hamilton
made a record Of similar freak Of
electricity. He was sitting at dinner
at house On Lake Werer. in Sweden.
when just after a vivid fash OF light.
ming a brilliant white ball appeared
over the table and after hanging poised
there Tor some seconds went of with
With q loud bang.
Fortunately It did no harm TO any
one. although II was quite close TO
several people. Those who 4arw il sug-
gested Il Was like = Dali OF cold light
nine
In November. 1902. sydney. Austria
lla,.. IS visited by terrific dust
e ~ u ~ - - So