Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1901 — TO RECORD LIGHTNING’S FLASH [ARTICLE]

TO RECORD LIGHTNING’S FLASH

Novel Instrument at St. Ignatius College, Clevelan 1. Weather prophets are likely to benefit by an invention of Father Odenbach of St. Ignatius College in Cleveland. He has perfected an Instrument which will record flashes of lightning long before any can be seen, and with the clouds from where they proceed far below the horizon. The machine which he has set up in the tower of the college building is sqmewhat complicated, and Is worked on the principle of the Marconi system. The electric waves, coming from a great distance, or from near by, are collected and brought through a series of delicate appliances to a recorder, which notes each impression with a distinct click like that of a telegraph instrument. The tower of the college is roofed with copper, which forms an excellent conductor for the electric rays. Connected with this copperroofed tywer Is the lightning-rod, also made of copper In the form of a cable, one thread of this cable being connected with the receiving and recording instruments. The first real test of the system came a few days ago. Hours before the storm visited Cleveland, when the sky was perfectly clear and absolutely no sign was given of an approaching storm, the instrument was busy clicking off its record of flashes from distant clouds. During the approach, duration and recession of the thunderstorm the record continued accurate and unbroken, and the records continued lohg after the flashes had become too indistinct to be visible. It is thought that the instrument will become Invaluable In meteorology, as by it local storms will be noted with certainty, and observers will be able to foretell thunderstorms and squalls, local disturbances which It Is Impossible now to foretell with any degree of accuracy.- -New York Tost.