The Miracle of the Magnetized Spikes

An interesting event was the illustrated lecture on electrical wonders given by Mr. Leo Daft on Tuesday evening at Plymouth Congregational church. The auditorium was packed with an appreciative audience. Mr. Daft is one of the foremost electrical engineers of the country and the inventor of important electric railway appliances. While the text of his lecture was very interesting, perhaps the most entertaining part of it was the various practical illustrations of the work electricity can be made to perform when properly harnessed. He conducted experiments in magnetic and static induction, in transforming, and with induction coils, Geissler tubes, condensers, and also light and power experiments. A giant lamp of 5,000 candle-power was used in one of the experiments and so bright was it that a photograph of the audience was taken by its light. Another interesting experiment was the bridge of spikes. Two large magnets were placed a couple of feet apart and a keg of railroad spikes was emptied so as to fall between the two magnets. But instead of falling between the magnets, they were arrested in their descent and all clung together in an arch extending from one magnet to the other, which was able to sustain the weight of two men. When the electricity was turned off the spikes fell to the floor.