AN ELECTRICAL FOG.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3783, 30 August 1883, Page 4

AN ELECTRICAL FOG.

A most extraordinary instance of an electrical fog is mentioned by Mr Crosse, of Bromfiefd, England. This gentleman, for the purpose of studying atmospheric clootrioity, had a long Aviro extended from tree to tree in his park. The Aviro being perfectly insulated conveyed the atmospheric electricity to tho room of the observer, where ono end terminated in au insulated brass ball, near Avhich Avas a second ball connected with the ground. Mr Crosses account is as follows f " On a dark November day I was sitting in my electrical room, during a A-ery dense driving fog and rain, Avhich'liad prevailed for many hours, accompanied by a strong southwest Avind. I had at this time 1,000 feet of insulated wire, whioh, crossing two small valleys, brought, the electric, fluid to my room. From about 8 o'clock in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, tho wire gave no sign of electricity. About 4 o'clock, while reading, I suddenly hoard a very strong explosion between flic two balls, Avhicb avci-c an inch apart. Shortly, the explosions became more frequent, 'until (here avus an uninterrupted stream of discharges, Avhich gradually died iiAvay and then recommenced Avith tho (>2iposito electricity in equal violence. The stream of fire Avas too vivid to look upon for any length of time, and the discharge continued for five hours without any intermission, and then ceased entirely. The least contact Avith tho conductor avoi ild have occasioned instant death, tho stream of fluid far exceeding anything I have ever witnessed, except during a thunder-storm. ■—St. Louis Globe-Democrat.