The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-01-26
LIGHTNING A MYSTERY
This Phenomenon Of Nature Is a
Puzzle to Science.
THE THEORY OF THUNDER.

N General Way II Is Understoodi
but as a Matter Of Fact, the Bolt
From the Storm II lts Erratle Tend
snciss Defies tho Investigator.
In general way we understand the
theory Of thundorstorms AS a mat
ter Of fact there is no phenomenon
q nature, but excepting even earth.
QuaSes, Of which we know so little
Man-made lghtning-that IS. elee
tricity Of the highest power, which
we can artincially produce-wlil act
according 70 certain known laws II
win, for instance, travel along a con-
ductor Of metal
But fash Of lightning will fire.
quent leap from well defined metal
path ana launch itself through the air
or some adjacent object which Is an
Infinitely poorer conductor
This may be due 70 the almost IN
conceivable force Of dash Of light
ming, says a writer Ia Parsons Week.
W 1t Is estimated that lash Of
lightning q mile long represents q
pressure Of discharge equal 70 5000
100000 volts,
As such a fash lasts OILY about the
thousandth part Of second the en-
ergy dissipated BY the discharge IS
equal 70 100000 horsepower Put IN
other words, If we could lnd 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 a peal Of thunder
which Is louder the nearer the nearer
Is TO the point OF the discharge, but
this IS not an inyariable rule There
are cases on record Of most destrue-
tive lightning flashes which were an
accompanied by sound.
Such phenomenon occurred at Brad
ford some years ago. What IS de-
scribed as "a silent thunderbelt" eel
IN q graveyard, destroying one monu-
ment and smashing to atoms nearly
seventy glass cases containing wreaths
and lowers
Ii the same summer Swanseombe.
in Kent. was terrified by freak 81
lightning All Of g sudden "a great
mass Of blue fire" swept along the
street, and next moment It was seen
that the lne old parish church, built
nearly roo years ago. had been struck
The building, with all Us fine old
carved oak, WAS soon a roaring fur
mace, and only a part Of the ehancel
was saved.
Scientists are still hopelessly at sea
as to the cause Of that peculiar phe-
nomenon known as globe lightning AT
some years ago during a VIC.
lent thunderstorm It passed along
street like q soap bubble built Of blue
fire and drlfted into a shed, where It
exploded, blowing the roof of the
place.
At Rheims, In France, a similar Gre
bali came into cohbler's shop
the open window The soil
tary occupant Of the place sat perfect
" stlll. paralyzed with terror, while
his fearful vsitant 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 Ike a shell 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 re was sitting ait dinner I
at house on Lake Wiener. in Sweden.
when just after d vivid dash Of light
ming a brilliant white ball appeared Z
over the table aud after hanging poised
there for some seconds went OF with
with q loud bang.
Fortunately it did 10 harm to any
one. although it was quite close to
several people Those who saw it sug
gested It was like a BAN on cold light
ming.
Ia November 1902, sydney, Austria
Ia was visited BY terrific dust
storm, in the midst of which q perfect
rain Of electric @ balls began 10 fall
These set fire to a number Of houses,
ind a most Appalling panie SET in. 4
nv was raised that the end Of tie
world was at hand aud people rushed
jut Of their houses into the Ink black
lust deep streets.
The most amazing and terrifying
displays Of the power Of lightning are
ieen on mountains IN 1890 party
vas on the TOP Of a mountain 10 the
Caucasus when a huge violet ball sur
'ounded hy vivid rays, struck rock
lear by and, exploding like d bomb
,urst into atoms One Of the party
vas badly hurt