Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-09-05
lightning RODS.

lightning RODS.
The numerous accidents by lightning occur
ring recently some in buildings TO which light
nmS rods were attached, have drawn out sev-
cIdl ot thu lights of science to explain aud pal
hate the freaks of their electric Iavorite. and
its disturbance to the only magical wand
rhc lightning rod. The fatal accidents occur
tInS IN the presence OF the lightning rods are
sad To have arisen from the fact that the rods
were made to terminate in dry earth. which
cannot conduct the lightning on. The cfica-
~ oi this continuance consists in conducting
the electric fluid To the earth. and thcr. dis
nibutins II or d~iilusiug it 50 as to be harmless.
II the surrounding earth is dry this efficacy is
lost. Lightning rods ought therefore always
totern'ha,e IN moistcar,ho r water las a spring
OF we'll OF, in cities having extensive metal
lie pipes for gas or water, then, in a conncc-
ton with such Pipes.
The lightning rod is regarded as one of the
great tnumphs OF modern science. So il is,
yet the learned have conicctur.d that the same
mode OF "appeaSing the lightning was known
IN the rcmotest antiquity. But this knowledge
was, like nearly every thing else. of a strange
and wonderful character, so mingled with the
tables and tricks of a pagan worship that il
was lost, il iteycr really existed, and men did
not easily discover Il scientific truth
IN the legends wbic, related the prodigies of
antiquity. There was, however, a temple at
Rom, IN which Jupiter was worshippcd with
the surname of Elicius, because il was believed
that there he could bc drawn down (elicere)
from the SKY by Il certain NJ. Sal
vcrie, a writer on the occult sciences of the
"hcicitS, endcavors Ia connect tins with a
knowledge oi the art of drawing down light
ming. H. iniers this from traditions and med
AIS. One medal, for example, represented the
temple oi Juno, the goddess of the air, with its
root armed with pointed rods. Another bears
the legend of Jupiter Elicius, i'm which the
tod appears with the lightning in his hand,
and benrath lisa man guiding Il winged stag.
cthcrs referring to the sam" subject bear a fish
covered with points, placed un a globe. Ii is
imagined that such Il fish or globe was the con
duclor employed by NWma (who co,nmunica.
I'D his scientific knowledge as revelations of
n n!inph) Ia draw from the clouds the electric
fire. According too tradition, Numa. al a pc
riod when lightning was causing frequent in
jury instructed by the nymph Egeria, sought
a method oi GPpcnsing The lightning. lie in
toxfcated Git was siil) certain Elruscan di-
whites. Tor their pri,sis,) and learned from
them the secret of making the laundering Ju-
pitcr descend upon earth without danger and
Immediately put il in execution. Since that
period Jupiter Elicius was adoTcd at Rome
II is related by Livy that Julius HostilIius in
searching the memoirs left by NuIna, found
among tlIem some instructions relative to the
secret sacrifices offered to JuritcT Elicius.-
But, dcviating from the sacred rite. lac became
exposed TO the anger OF Jupiter, was struck by
tie lightning and Was burned with his palace.
The fate vi Tullus il conjecturcd to have been
only thdt OF Professor R%ichmdnn. who. in 1853
was killed by lightning whilst lncdutiously
repeating the experiments of franklin. This
Art, Vcllcd under the name oG rites of Jupitcr
Elicius, Is considered 10y Salycrtc as having
been used by the various imitators of thunder
Gong back To- the aye of Promcthcu,i il affords
- i""'"'''' VI w tdHlt W NdItuDnptIS. IL
was employed by /oropstcr to kindle the ga
cred fire and perform some uf the miracles of
winch a Evolutionary belief still exists in the
East. u may br Inferred that. in the time oC
trcN'a", the same az, was known i'm India
ana That The Jews were acquainted will, lis
effects may ~ inferred from some r,,narLs o(
Micllaclis cited nv Salycro. Iir remarks.
Fu
That there is nothing to indicate ,Ie,t ia.
lightning ever struck tie temple m Jerusalem,
during the laps Of a Thousand wears. y Tia,
according 10 The account Of Joseph a lorcs, ol
spikes, with golden or gilt points and YER,
sfarP' covered tie roof Of this temple r..
hldikablc resemblance with tlp tcmpIr of Ju.
40 above mentioned T. That tli, rppC cot,
nrnnic'tcd rim NE corrrns in Hc Mn nj N,
It"Pt, ny 1n'ov' of m,taiLc fnJes. placed in
connection with tiy tlhch gliding tigl covered
me "''"i" exterior OF tIc building. TIN
points oi tl~ pixies tiare u .crs<triI, p~rpIp,o,
The effect 81 lightning ,ol,. Was mi. im,o,
i'h' result arnyrd dtby chdnc, ? Or were fl,
spikes only placcI there. as Jos.plu- snr,,
ses' to Keep dho birds from s]lielnin- and JrG
ling The Temple Ilis ignorance pcrb,o.