The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-03-25
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.


but, as a Matter of Fact, the Boil
From the Storm In Its Erratic Tend
eneies Defies the Investigator.
In a general way we understand thu
theory Of thunderstorms. As mat
ter of fact, there is no phenomenon
Of nature, but excepting even earth
Quakes, of which we know SO little.
Nan-made lightning-that is, cleo
tricity of the highest power, which
we can artificially produce-will act
according to certain known laws. II
will, 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 q fash Of light
ming, says writer in Parsons Week
ly. 1t Is estimated that q fash Of
lightning q mile long represents a
pressure Of discharge equal to 3,0O0,-
100000 volts.
As such fash lasts only about the
thousandth part Of second the en-
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 a good
round sum for every fash.
Lightning is, as we know, usually
accompanied by a peal of thunder
which Is louder the nearer the nearer
IL 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 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 1t 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 roaring fur
mace, and only part of the chancel .
was saved.
Scientists are still hopelessly 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
fire and drifted into a shed, where it
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 soil
tary occupant of the place sat perfect
" 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
Der part of the chimney came crashing
Town.
Not long ago Count G. Hamilton
made a record of q similar freak of
Electricity. He was sitting at dinner
It house on Lake Wiener. In Sweden,
when just after vivid fash of light
ing a brilliant white ball appeared
yer the table and after hanging poised
here for some seconds went off with
With loud bang.
Fortunately 1t did no harm to any
ne. although it was quite close to
eVeral people. Those who saw it sug-
ested 1t was like a ball of cold light
ing.
In November, 1902, Sydney, Austria
a. was visited by terrific dust ,
.orm, In the midst of which a perfect
lin Of electric fl balls began to fall.
hese set fire to a number of houses.
Id most appalling panic set in.
y was raised that the end IF the :
ORD was at hand, and people rushed
1t Of their houses into the IN; black 2
lst deep streets.
Inc most amazing and terrifying z
spIays Of the power CT lightning are /
en- on mountains. In 1890 a party ?
Us on the top Of Il mountain in the
lucasus when huge violet ball, sur g
unded by vivid rays, struck rock i
ar by and, exploding like a bomb. :
ISL into atoms. One Of the party !
IS badly hurt. =
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