Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-01-24
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER

but, as a Matter Of Fact, the Sol
From the Storm In Its Erratic Tend
encies Defies the Investigator.
In q general way we understand the
theory of thunderstorms. AS u 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, elec
tricity OF the highest power. which
we can artiticialy produce-will aci
according To certain known laws. 1t
will, for instance. travel along con
ductor of metal.
But flash OF lightning will fire.
quent leap from Il we'll defined metal
path and launch itself through the air
or some adjacent object which is al
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 1t is estimated that II flash OF
lightning u mile long represents a
pressure of discharge equal to 5000
100000 volts.
AS such fash lasts only about the
thousandth part of second the ell
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 Il good
round sum for every flash.
Lightning Is, as we know. usually
accompanied by peal Of thunder.
which Is louder the nearer the nearer
is to the point OF the discharge. hui
this IS not an invariable rule. There
are cases on record Of most destruc-
tive lightning flashes which were I'M
accompanied by sound.
Such Il phenomenon occurred at Brad
ford some years ago. What Is de-
scribed as "a silent thunderboit" 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 fire" swept along the
street. and next moment it was seen
that the fine old parish church built
nelrly eco Years ago. had been struck
The building. with all its fine old
carved uaN. was soon roaring fur
aaCe. ana only Il part of the chancel
WAS saved
Scientists are still hope!eSsly at sea
as to the cauTe of that peculiar phe.
n0mennn grown as globe lightning. At
Coventry some Years ago during VIC
lent thunderstorm II PASSED along
street like II soap bubble built of blue
fire and driftcd into a she'd where it
exploded, blowing the roof off the
place.
at Rheims il France. Il similar fire
ball came into IL cobb.rr's shop
through the open Window The soil
tary occupant OF the pace sal perfect
ly still. paralyzcd WIKI terror. while
his fearful visitant uu.prrd for sever
al seconds overhead Then il moved
toward the fireplace and presently
passed up the chimney.
Next moment there was an eXpo-
sion like 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 Wiener. in Sweden,
when just after a vivid flash of light
ming brilliant white ball appeared
foI ,l n faY, ha, In,
there for some seconds went off with
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 a terrific dust
storm, III the midst Of which perfect
rain Of electric Fl e balls began to fall.
These set fire to a 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 party
was on the top of a mountain in the
Caucasus when huge violet ball. sur
rounded by vivid rays, struck a rock
near by and. exploding like bomb,
burst into atoms. One of the party
was badly hurt.