Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-26


" bolt carecred around US with fierce and resist
less energy Doubtless, feather BED Is Inc
most safe retreat in such cases HAD u oee"
later in the day, and the passengers aoou, '"e
cabin. the chances are, that it would have oeeh
fatal TO many of us.
"The operation OF the second shock was yer!
different from the former. and is more deserving
of attention. as furnishing new instance ="
p,oof of the efficacy of lightning rods, as pro-
lection at sea We had chain conductor on
board but il not being tine season 10 expect
much lightning, and the hrsi shock coming on
quite suddenly, il was not up at the time. inc
morning sauall was over; it continued, howeV-
er. 10 blow fresh all the day, and about noon,
heavy clouds began 10 gather in on every siue'
rolling their volumes apparently among Inc
rippinp We had reason To expect more lignt-
n;ne. the conductor was prepared, and Captain
Bennet ordered il 10 be raised to the main-roy-
al.mast head 1t consisted OF an iron chain
having links, one fourth of an inch thick, and
two lrcl long, turned it hooks at each END, ana
connected by rings Of the Same thickness ana
Of one inch annular diameter. ~ his cnain was
fastened to a rod of iron, half an inch thick ano
four feet in length, with point wei Pohsnea
and ,aperet. in order to receive the Huid WIN
facility; it was secured to the main royalmast'
the rod extending two feet above the mast
head, and thence il was brought down over 'he
quarter, and repealed by an oar, pro'rudihg,
saw ten feet, from the ships side, and sinking
few feet below the surface OF the water.
CDR Franklin was OF opinion that roo OF
this size would sustain wiihou, injury the Sc
veres, shock of lightning have been thus
minute in stating the dimensions OF the cham,
for the double purpose Of conveying some IDEA
D( ItprN N (r
n. necessity Of providing larger conductors.
The chain, however, in this instance, perform
ed its Office, and it was UP in happy time to
avert blow that, in the opinion OF all on board,
must have sent this s,aunch vessel IN an instant
10 the bottom
"Soon after D. IN. we saw lightning; lit
lie before observed very smart flash; look
ing at my watch, which marks seconds, ! count
ed four, when the repor, followed; fel, no
alarm, however, having frequently known ii 10
approach nearer wthou, any injury AT 2
O'Clock we were as,onished by another sho'k
like tina, in The morning; the fash and sound
SIMULTANEOUS happened to be in the cabin
with another passengers; BAH OF tre seemed
TO dart down before us; al the same momenf thr
81 SIS in the round house came rafting. down
below Those on deck agreed tina, the Whole
ship appeared to be in blaze, from the vivid
ness Of the principal fash, which they distinct
ly saw darling down the conductor, and agita-
ing the water All parts Of the ship, as before,
were filed with smoke, smelling a sulphur
"rhe ship was again thoroughly examined.
The conductor had been rem, 10 pieces by the
discharge, and scattered TO the winds; small rag
men,s of il were found on deck; in saving the
ship it had literally yielded i,sefto the fury OF
the blast The pointed rod was found to be
fused and shortened several inches, and covered
over with dark coating; some oi the links had
-srrrs1rg, and Chords
another Of those rave cases where The conductor
yielded 10 the violence of he shock, while il ef
tectually avertrd the bolt from the object il was
designed 10 protect
"This was property OF the rod, Of which
Franklin was satisfied very early after the APP
plication of theory tina, has disarmed The light
ming of heaven. One Of the earliest cases which
fell under his notice, believe, occurred in one
of the Dutch churches in New York-a chain
connected with the clock probably saved the
church much damage, bul the chain itself was
melted.
"Mr. Ross, the second officer, was Frustrated
and three of the men struck, but none much in
jured. 1t affected the polarity # all the com
passes, causing them to airy from the true point
and Between each other hey gradually as
sumed bearing, by which we have steerrd,
though still three points out as we have just
discovered The captain chronometer was
very materially affected; it usually crosses the
Atlantic without varying three seconds; il has
now proved to be out as many degrees. Gu
rious as are these effects, they still more in.
,eresiing in an experimental view. Such facts,
carefully noted Gown al the time, afford useful
data in The cause of science. Thus collected,
they are at your disposal. When il is copsid
cred that not one vessel in fifty is prepared with
a conductor, cases OF this kind ought 10 adj
monish ship owners Of their utility. Captain
Bennett is determined TO go well armed with
them in future Il would BE- well TO have one
ready to be raised at each mast IN case of emer
gencv; and, foi The safety of',he chain, it ough!
to br half an lnch IN diameter
owe have visited" says the editor of the
Liverpool Chronicle Cite ship since her ar
rival, md the traces which remain of the opera
ton of the first shock, tog Their with the concur.
rent testimony of c plain Bonnet md his mates,
and the state Of the iron rod. and such portions
of the chain conductor as have been preserved,
which, tor the present. may be seen on applica-
lion at our uffice, have served to convince us
a. IL