American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-08-22

lance, as'tAl they come within that distance =,
other, no stroke will be made. " each
Fhe clouds have often more of this e,;. :
portion than the earth; in which case as ~ pro-
they come near enough, Uhat is, within h aeUn y
distance or meet with a conductor m, a' ',k'0a
them and strikes IN the earth. A cloud mil yu'1
ged with this fluid, if so high as to BE- hsnas snar1
striking distance OF the earth, passes quietly wh
gu. making noise or giving light, unless it me-.
with other clouds which have less. "''1
Tall trees, aud lofty buildings, as II. ,o,,..
spires oil churches, become sometimes cond,'' 'u
between The clouds aud the earth but no, h.;o
goou ones, thai is, not conveying the Huid Gr.st
they are often damaged.
Buildings that have their roof. covered with %,
OF o'heF metal continued from the earth inn ~
ground 10 carry of the water, arc never bur, T.
!iShtning as, whenever II falls on such buildinn
1t passes IN the metals and not in the walls.
Wheh other buildings happen to be within ),
striking distance from such clouds the Auid NAV
IN the walls whether Of wood, brick or stone o"
ting the walls only when it can find better corSr",
ors DC ar them, as metal rods bolts and binos,
windows or doors, gliding on wainscot. or I.,os
oil pictures the silyering on the backs of koLaS
glasses, the wire Tor bells and the bodies of anr
as containing ws,ery fluids. And in passing lbon"
the house. It follows the direction Of these conJns
ofs' taking as many in its way as can assist mi;
passage, whether ID straight or crooked line ..r
ing from one to the other, il moi far distant tn I
each other, only r'ndlng the wall IN the sosca
where these partially good conductors are Ion d.,
tant from each Other.
An iron rod being placed on the outsiS. n
building, from the highest part contisued down ii,
the moist EARTH in any direction, srai, or croobs
following The form of the roof or other Dat, of NJ
building, will receive the lightning at its upD,r en-
attracting II SO as to prevent its striking snv NH
part Of the building.
The rod may be fastened to the wall. cbimn.
&c. with staples OF iron. The lightning will n
leave the rod "a good conductor( to pass into
wall IA bad conductor) through the staples.
would rather, it any where in the wall, pass out
Y into the rod to get more readily by that conduct
INTO the earth.
II the building be very large and extensive, I'd
or more rods may be placed at different parts
greater security.
small ragged parts of clouds, suspended in
air between the great body OF clouds and the cal
like Leaf gold in electrical experimental often ser
as partial conductors for the Ii. hinng. which
ce' DIS from one OF them to another and BY ths
help comes within the striking distance to he earl
Or building. It therefore strikes through tho
conductors building that would otherwise be ID
ot the striking distance
Long sharp points communicating with the cart
and presented to such parts Of the clouds, draw
emily from them the fluid they are charged with
hey are then attracted to the cloud, and may lea
he distance so great as to be beyond the reach
striking.
1t is therefore that we elevate the upper end
he rod six or eight feet above the highest part
he building, tapering it gradually to sharp pOi
Which IS gilt to prevent its rusing.
hus The pointed rod either prevents stn
rom the clouds, or if stroke is made, conducts
o the earth with safety to the building.
The lower end Of the rod should enter the ear
10 deep as TO come at the moist part perhaps ~
IF three feet; and if bent when under the surface
IS to SO IN horizontal line six or eight feet fro
he wall, and then bent again downwsrds three
our feet, it will prevent damage to any Of the ston
Vt the foundation.
A person apprehensive of danger from ighInn
during time of thunder TO be in hOu
'ot SO secured, will do well to avoid sitting nearl
'hlmney, near looking glass, or any gilt picture
Valnscot the safest place is the middle oil the roo
so 1t be not under metal lustre suspended oY
hain) sitting in one chair, and laying the ieel
n another. 1t is still safer TO bring two Or Ihf
or beds into the middle Of the room aN
gliding them up double, place the chair upon hs1
or they not being so good conductors as the wal
he lightning will not choose an interrupted couT
Trough the air of the room and the bedding w
can go through continued better conductor
vail.
LIGHTNING RODS.
The First object Of the rod (says DR. franN1