Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-06-25
yartnus.

is taken as q guide 10 the future, many
others will be added to the list before
the warm season closes. Under these
circumstances, il is the dictate Of pru
dence, and proper regard to self pre-
servation in our power, to guard against
so terrible and destructive toe. The
discoveries OF Frankl'n on this subject,
though founded in reason and tested bJ
experience, are but little regarded 10
prsctice. In this city especially, the
proportion of buildings protected By
conductor, is surprisingly small. The
cost is very trfngin comparison With
the value of human life; and set so gen
ersl is tue impression OF self security,
that in general no precautions are used.
We can scarcely hope that eng thing
which we can say, will have the leest e.
feet in overcoming a negligence go in
yeteraie.
We viii, therefore, quote from the
Mechanics Magazine some directions
which msy be properly followed III
thunder storm, BY persons who occupy
dwellings, 10 which conductors are not
attached Aud we will barely premise,
that gentleman of Boston is now living
snd in health, who was sitting between
the two persons lately killed in Con
way, Massachusetts,, when the event
took place. and who would, in all pro-
liability. have shared the same fate, had
be not resoded to one of the eypedi-
ents here suggested He remembered
10 have heard G remark of Franklin,
that a chair without back, in the mid
die of the room, with the fee. Of the oc
oupant on the round, was compare
lively safe position in g thunder storm.
and adopted it accordingly. The con :
sequence was, that he escaped nearly
unInlured, while his mpanions on the
right and left were instantly killed. The
following is the communication above
referred to.
SIR: Will YOU permit an individual
who has, four times in the course oil his
life, nearly become a victim to light
ming, or athunderbolt striking house,
and making its way irtc the interior, TO
inquire what would be The best precau.
ton to take, or the best means to adopt
in an apartment, e1eetually togusrd a
gains, the danger Of being struck by
Lightning during thunder sformp
| am, Sc. @FULNEN.
We extrac. the following directions
on this head from our common place
book:
Places Of The greafe't safety ~
Thunder Storm In case q thunder
storm were to happen while a pefson-is
10 the house, not furnished with prep
er conductor, il is advisable not TO stand
near places where there is any metal
as chimneys, gilt frames, iron case
menss, or the Ike; but TO go into the
middle of room, and endeavor to stand
or sit upon the best non conductor that
can b. found at hand, as an old chair,
stool, Sc. 1t is still safer TO bring two
o. lb,ee mattresses or beds into the mid.
de 9ftEe room, and, folding them up
8 able pot the chair upon them; for
frey not being such good conductors as
r." vale, tHe lightning will not choose
81 Interrupted course through the cir Of !
Gbo room end the bedding, when it can
Po through continued and better con
dp,tpr--the "ail, The place of most
absolute safety is the cellar, and partc-
Il = ~ the middle OF ii; for when peg
son Is low than the surface Of the earth |
the !ghtn ,ng must STR the surface Of |
The EARN before it Can possibly reach |!
hun But when il can be had, ham
m pck, or swinging bed, suspended By !.
silk cords equally distant from the wells |
on every side, aud from the ceiling a
bove and below, affords the safest situa
ton person can have IN any room
whatever, and what, indeed, may be /
considered quite free from danger OF
an, stroke OF bgitning. II storm hap
pens whilst person is in the open fields
and far f"om any butdrug, the best
thing Ls can do is 80 retire within a
small distance of the highest tree or
trees be can get at; he must by no
Weans go quite near them, but should |
stop at about fifteen or twenty feet from
their outward branches; for If the light
ming should fall thel eabout, il will very |
probably strike the trees, and should a
tree be split, he is safe enough at that
distance from it--be sides, from repeat |
ed observations, il has been asceitsined |
that the lightning by no means descends
in one undivided track. but bodies OF va
rious kinds cenduet their share of it al
the same time, in proporiiou to their |