July 25, 1889] 



NATURE 



295 



Taking the following longitudes and latitudes — 



Tokio 



Potsdam 

 Wilhelmshaven 



139 SoE., 35 44 N. 



13 4 ,. 52 24 ,, 



89,. 53 32 „ 



-41- 



H+- 



-H- 



-«- 



-H- 



I5H 18 ^1 



1889 APRIL 17. GR.M.T. 

 POTSDAM. 



21'? 



WILHELMSHAVEN 1889 APRIL 17 



rei* 



18 »? 

 GR. MEAN TIME 



2I^• 



and neglecting the ellipticity of the earth, we find the following 

 distances : — 



Tokio to Potsdam 



Tokio to Wilhelmshaven.. 



8221 kilometres. 

 8307 



Dividing the mean 8264 by 3858s., we find a velocity of 2142 

 metres of propagation on the straight line connecting Tokio 

 and a place between Potsdam and Wilhelmshaven, and con- 

 sequently the shock ought to have been observed at Wilhelms- 

 haven 40s. later than at Potsdam. 



The above value of velocity is between the values found by 

 Milne from seismic experiments, viz. 900- 1400 metres for 

 different kinds of rock, and by Abbot from the effect of 

 dynamite explosions, viz. 2800 metres. We may therefore safely 

 conclude that the disturbances noticed in Germany were really 

 due to the volcanic action which caused the earthquake of Tokio. 



Potsdam, July 5. E. VON Rebeur-Paschwitz. 



P. S. — I add a list of the most remarkable disturbances noticed 

 during the course of the observations. Unfortunately, the work- 

 ing of the instrument at Wilhelmshaven was often disturbed by 

 the effects of an excessive dampness in the cellar. The time is 

 G.M.T. as above. 



1889, April 5. — A day of great steadiness. A small perturb- 

 ation bej? ins at 9h. (Potsdam) and 9h. 5 ■4m. (Wilhelmshaven). 

 It is divided by a short time of steadiness, 9h. ir4m. (Potsdam) 

 and 9h. 16 -Sm. (Wilhelmshaven). 



April 8. — A fine disturbance begins at l6h, 45 •6m. (Potsdam) 

 and i6h. 47"4m. (Wilhelmshaven). 



April 15. — A day of remarkable unsteadiness ; the principal 

 perturbation at both places lasts three hours, and lies between 

 7h. and loh. It is impossible to determine a certain phase. 



April 25. — A perturbation from i6h. 48m. to l8h. 12m. at 

 Potsdam. No photograph obtained at Wilhelmshaven. 



April 28. — An earthquake, consisting of one principal shock, 

 apparently took place at 2i^h. ; the times noted are 2ih. 34 'Sm. 

 (Potsdam) and 2ih. 36'6m. (Wilhelmshaven). 



May 21. — A pretty large disturbance at Potsdam, lasting from 

 loh. 33m. to iih. 6m., interrupted by a moment of rest at 

 loh. 42m. No photograph at Wilhelmshaven. 



May 25, — Two very remarkable disturbances at Potsdam — 

 7h. 9m. and loh. 42m.— each lasting ih. No photograph at 

 Wilhelmshaven. 



May 26. — A disturbance noticed at Potsdam, at gh. 24m. 

 No photograph at Wilhelmshaven. 



May 30. — At Wilhelmshaven, two shocks are noticed — 

 8h. 18 •6m. and 9h. 24m. — which are probably connected with 

 the English earthquake of this day. Perfect steadiness at 

 Potsdam. 



May 31. — A disturbance of earthquake-like appearance. 

 Time of beginning, at Potsdam, 8h. 48m. ; at Wilhelmshaven, 

 8h. 44 •4m. ; the latter time being rather uncertain, on account 

 of the faintness of the curve. 



I hope that one or other of these facts may prove to be of 

 interest to seismologists. 



On the Phenomena of the Lightning Discharge, as 

 Illustrated by the Striking of a House in Cossipore, 

 Calcutta. 



During a heavy thunderstorm which passed over Calcutta 

 about 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 last, the house of Conductor 

 W. Viney, at Cossipore (a suburb of the city), was struck by 

 lightning, and I have thought that a description of the pheno- 

 mena connected with it might perhaps be worth placing on 

 record in the columns of Nature. 



I was myself watching the storm from the veranda of my 

 residence about 300 yards distant, and observed that the discharge 

 in question was one of extreme violence. I visited the scene of 

 the accident within a few hours, with Mr. Viney 's permission 

 taking the notes from which this account is prepared ; and, owing 

 to the exceptional opportunities for observation which obtained 

 in this case, have been able to secure trustworthy statements as 

 to the appearance of the discharge, and further, by inquiry, to 

 satisfy myself upon one or two points which I believe to possess 

 considerable scientific interest. 



The house which was struck is large, square, and flat-roofed, 

 and is occupied by three foremen employed in the Government 

 Shell Factory adjacent : it is providedwith a lightning-conductor 

 projecting 8 or 9 feet above the roof-level, and situated near to 

 ore end of the building, but apparently unconnected with any 



her portion of the roof. It is possible that a portion of the 

 discharge passed harmlessly away by the conductor, but of this 



1 liave no evidence, positive or negative. The lightning entered 

 Mr. Viney 's portion of the house by a corrugated iron covered 

 hatchway standing 6 feet high at the corner diagonally opposite 



