The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-06-12
For The Cecil Wing.
THUNDER STORMS.

The frequency with which we have
been visited by the most terrible thun.
der storms, during the present season,
seems naturally to call our attention to
the subject, and prompt us to search for
the most approved means of protection.
Although, as DR.. Lardner remarks, the
chances, which we incur of being struck
by Lightning, are infinitely less than
those that we encounter from thousand
other causes of danger to which we ex.
pose ourselves without apprehension,
still, the fact that immense losses both
of life and property have been sustained
by this destructive element is sufficient
cause for alarm, to say nothing Of the
almost universally instructive dread
which we experience in the midst of
violent thunder storm. 1t is said that
the Thracians We're accustomed to shoot
pointed metallic arrows at cloud which
menaced thunder. The Emperor Au.
gustus always wore a seal skin cloak
during thunder storm, and Tiberius
crown of laurel. Others of the ancients
secreted themselves in caves dug for the
purpose; nor is this practice entirely dis
continued at the present day; | have
heard of an old man now living in the
western part Of Missouri, who takes to
his cave on the first intimation of thun-
der storm. The progress of science has,
however, gone very far toward eradl-
eating the fear of being struck by light
ming, so that now our attention is turned
chiefly to protecting buildings which
either from their great altitude, or the
nature of their contents render them
peculiarly liable to come in contact with
l,ghtning.-Spires, cupolas and such like
structures, that rise to a considerable
elevation, and in the building of which
great amount Of metal is necessarily
employed are likely to attract the light
ming as It passes from cloud to cloud.
Barns when filled with newly gathered
grain Or hay are also in very exposed
condition.
The efficiency of metallic rods to pro.
tect buildings from the effects of light.
nng has been so thoroughly tested as
scarcely to admit of reasonable doubt.
AS proof here annex few examples
from work On the nature Of Wunder
Storms by w. Snow Harris, +. r. S.
ga house was struck by lightning at Tcnter-
den, on the nth of June, 1774. The discharge
was conducted by an iron bar three quarters of
an inch square.
SIN August, 1920, a heavy discharge oflight-
ming struck His Magcsty's ship Beagle, in the Rio
de la Plata, South America. The ship had con-
dnctors made plates ofcopper, three -sixternths
of an inch thick, and varying from one to five
inches in breadth: these were fixed in her masls.
Although the vessel trembled under the dis
change, and the mast appeared to be enveloped
in blaze of fire, yet not the slightest effect was
produced on the conductor, nor was any dam
age done to the vessel.
Lardner's lecture on Protection from
Lightning also furnishes a great number
of examples, from which | extract the
following:
'eThe church of the chateau of Count Orsni,
in Carinhia, stand ing on an emincnce, was so
often struck by lightning, and so many fatalities
, occurred in consequence, that, at length, the
celebration Of divine service was discontinued
there in summer, In the course ofthe year 1880
the steeple was entirely destroyed by lightning
After it was reconstructed, it continued to be
! struck four or five times year. In 1878 it was
entirely demolished, and being Immediately re-
built, it was now supplied with para1onnerre.
From that time the building was free from dam
age by lightning. In five years it was struck but
once, and then the fluid was conducted TO the
earth by the paratonnerre, without injury to the
church.
SIN 1850 and 1863 the Dutch church al New
York was struck by lightning, and sustained
great injury. II was after that provided with
paratonncrre, and, beng again struck in 1865,
sustained no injury.
"The church of St. Michael, at Charleston,
used to be struck and damaged once at least in
two or three years. II was provided with a
paratonnerre, after which il sustained no damage.
In regard to the general principles to
be kept in view in the application of
lightning rods, Mr.. Harris says:
"The rod should be made of the best conduct
ing substance; it should be continuous, and have
great electrical capacity, and the metal of which
1t is composed should expose as great an extent
ofsurface as possible, consistently with strength
and durability.
Miss Dobbs says-The first time