gilda_elise

On the night of July 15, 1903, Nikola Tesla powered up his 190-foot tower in Wardenclyffe on Long Island's north shore. The bolts of energy radiating from the apical dome were visible as far away as New Haven, Connecticut. This was the first and last time anyone would witness such a display. Three years later, broke and unable to secure further funding, Tesla abandoned the Wardenclyffe tower and his dream of worldwide wireless power. He returned to Manhattan where he promptly suffered a nervous breakdown. 

So say the history books.   

But new evidence has surfaced that a shadowy fraternal order stepped in and provided generous funding after J. P. Morgan reneged. Witnesses state that testing of the tower continued but only on foggy days when the discharges would not be noticed. The final test took place on April 18, 1906. Around dawn, in heavy fog, the tower was charged to maximum capacity; across the Atlantic, in Abereiddy, Wales, two copper prongs attached to a 50-watt lightbulb were thrust into the ground. The bulb lit.  Tesla had proved that worldwide wireless power was possible.

Why then, at the moment of his greatest vindication, did Nikola Tesla abandon his project? What could possibly have transpired at Wardenclyffe that day to so rattle him that he would deny the world his transformative technology? We may never know.

An interesting read, but only peripherally part of the Secret History, though there were some hints that do speak of characters and situations in some of the other books. I do like how Tesla’s history was folded into the story, melding true history with the “secret history.” I knew very little about the man, but may now delve more into his life.

And it was really nice to have a book that’s part of the History that’s not about Repairman Jack! Considering how much time is covered, one would think that other characters would surface. Here, some finally did. Charles Atkinson does a great job of narrating the story, first as an apprentice, but soon as so much more, as he becomes deeply involved with the project.

And I’m wondering now if, someday, we might read more about Charles. That would be a good thing.