The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-26
The Painted IAshanzng Roo ana the wAdes.
gsOuma Lightning, nc Newark.

gsSuMa LIghsslng, nc Newark.
z..' 10 ruH HDrroR OF rum nnsALp 81
We examined, On Friday, the house at Newark, on
the Belevi1le road to the new cemetery, owned aud
occupied by Mr. Sterling Armstrong, which was
struck by lightning on the evening OF August 8. n
though furnished with rod This Ia the building
which writer in the Newark Daily Advertiser, Of
Monday, 10th, stated had been struck by lightning
that came out Of the ground s Tt Z
The house 10 of wood, painted white ID two stories
high, about twenty five fee by thirtytwo has deep
basement, and is surmounted by cupola. The roof
comes to point in the centre under the cupoa and
ia covered with shingles nailed on The rod extends
more than two feet above the cupola and has vera
points, all Ut which are covered with thick coating
Of white pant. The rod Is also covered with thick
coating Of white paint until it reaches the roof and
from this point to where it rises in curve to pass
over the cave trough, 1t ID wholly free from paint;
the roo has o thick and hard coat Of white paint
upon it. The rod is round iron, and about three
fo,irths Of an inch in diameter. The cupoa is fur
nished with small tin leader, which discharges the
rain water FILLING on 1t upon the roof 3 TGmM
The lightning descended directly from the cloud,
and was accompanied by heavy clap Of thunder, to
that portion OF the rod on the roof which Is un.
painted, and followed it until it reached the paint.
Here IT left the rod and followed the nails OF the
shingles, and descended to large iron clamp, made
OF heavy bar iron. on the plate, and followed the
plate from clamp to clamp. Nearly under the
rod, and but few feet from it, is large
sheet iron stove and pipe, stored in the attic.
This stove, without doubt, Seceived q part of
the discharge from the rod; and from the attic it
passed Gown column OF raried air in the centre of
the house 10 the lowest brass stair carpet rod and
nom this rod under tie oilcoth of the hall tearing
", as Ia ita usual practice ia all such cases and de-
ecehded ON the floor nails TO the basement, which j.,
IN three apartments-twO ore dry cellars, aud the
third large kitchen heated by FIRE in large stove
In passing into the basement it threw down the upper
pasterng of the kitchen, end passed to two heavy
cast iron weights OF dumb waiter near by and from
thence to the leaden water pipe, from thence to an
iron sink, and to metal pump into the Garth. All
these conductors were near together The lghtning
also entered the other two apartments OF the base
nent. in one OF which it split the top OF stud aud
divided il accurately at the termination OF the poo
OF nail large brass kettle lay on the cellar floor
at the foot OF the stud. and against it was large
iron kettle-bOth good conductors, and in immediate
contact with demp flooring. In the other apart
meat 1t splihtered the sudding at the foot Of which
lay large iron teakette. On the shelves here were
several pieces of iron. t9sf ae
have examined many painted Lightning rods, on
buildings struck by lightning, and have never known
painted ROD to perform any Of the duties Of q cou
ductor srf' s@ rger sH
In the examination OF the steamboat Suffolk struck
by Lightning when OF Fort Hamilton July 49, lS4S
found that the Lightning passed from the flag staff
ping the awning like lift had been cut with knife
but refused to descend the iron rods painted white
that supported the wooden bar Oh which the awning
rested.
QUA bold to say ana free to declare nv belief that
metallic rod. reared for the purpose Of protection,
affords absolute protection against loss of life by that
"wonderful meteor" The most ancient writer upon
natural things, declares 'the Almighty made way
for the lightning Of the thunder and all experience
and observation, recent or remote is in accordance
with that inspired declaration. aa3f
The simple iron rod, in one single piece regard
the most perfect conductor having but two magnetic
poes-the attractive and the repnlsive-and should
be fled to sharp point at each end. The old fash
Toned conductors one inch iron square, prese nts
four inches of surface, but drawn out into onefourh
inch rods, make sixteen conductors each having one
nchsurace or quadruple the surface of the one inch
square rod The protection is thus increased sixteen
fold, Tor quarter inch rod In single piece is able
to conduct safely to the earth the heaviest thunder
bot that ever descended in one body. There is no
fusion by heat where there is interruption or OBJ
stluction IN the surface of the conducting body.
The lightning, as have before said did not come
from the ground l have never kno wn building or
any object to be struck by underground lightning.
Lightning can only come from the vast depths ofthe
earth when the carhs crust is rent by terrific earth
quases or opened by volcanic action
Tho earth on which Mr.. Armstrong; house stands
is undtiaid at no great depth with solid rock sub
stratum, and to allow the lightning to escape through
II from the vast depths Of planet would have
CURED shock of earthquake that would havs made
every house in Newark or New York tremble to its
foundation. Gfa-@9 l-l3 f. MERRIAM.
IGEsDAg, A. NJ, August 90, 1865. 1891