The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-05
A MARTYR TO SCIENCE.

A MARTYR TO SCIENCE.
After Franklin made his great dis
covery of the identity of lightning and
electricity, by means of Kite sent up
into the air during thunder storm, ma
ny philosophers eagerly sought to repeat
the experiments. Among these, professor
Richman. of St. Petersburg, was the
most indefatigable and fearless. In pur-
suing series of experiments on atmos-
pheric electricity, he erected what was
called a gnomon, which consisted prin-
cipally of Leyden jar, communicating
with an iron rod, which rose some feet
above the roof of his house and an cleo
trometer, consisting of linen thread
with half grain of lead tied to it. Of
course, when the gnomon was charged
with electricity, aid had communicated
that fluid to the thread and the metal,
the latter being easily moved, would be
repelled from the gnomon; and its angu-
lar descent on the face of divided quad
rant or index, indicated the force of elec-
tricity which had been accumulated. On
the 9th of August, 1859, Richman OBJ
tanned from the end of the rod electrical
flashes, which could be heard at several
feet distant; and if any person touched
The apparatus a smart shock was felt
On the 9th of August. 1853, the profess
for. whilst at a meeting of the Academy
of Sciences, heard the sounds OF distant
thunder; and previously having made
every arrangement Tor making expert
ments, he instantly quilted the assembly,
taking with him his engineer, Sokolow,
to make draughts of whatever might ap-
pear interesting in the phenomenon. On
their arrival at Richman's house, the
plummet Of the electrometer was found
elevated four degrees from the perpen-
dicular; in other words, the electricity
in the gnomon had accumulated to such
an extent, that it repelled the lead to the
distance mentioned. Whilst the philoso-
pher was in the act of describing to his
companion the dangerous consequences
which might follow if the thread rose to
forty-6ve degrees, a tremendous crash Of
thunder shook the imperial city. He
bent his head over the gnomon to observe
the indications of the electrometer, and in
this position, with his head foot from
the iron rod, globe of blush white fire,
about the size Of Mr.. Sokolow's fist, shot
from the iron rod to the professors head,
accompanied bya report as loud as that
of . pistol. .a
The discharge proved fatal; he fell
back on chest and expired in moment.
Sokolow was stupiied and benumbed by
kind of vapor which had been genera
ted, and his clothes were covered with
burnt marks produced by the red hot frag.
ments of . metallic wire which had struck
his person. On recovering himself, he
rushed out of the house, and made known
the terrible disaster which had taken place.
In the meanwhile, Madame Richman,
alarmed by the thunder-stroke, hastened
to the chamber, and found her lifeless
husband in the attitude of sitting upon
the chest, and leaning against the wall.
The medical part Of the case is not with
out interest. Aid was of course instant
" obtained; vein was opened, but no
blood flowed from it; and, although ev-
cry attempt was made to restore life by
violent friction and other means. all was
in vain. When the body was turned, q
small quantity of blood dropped from the
mouth, and from red spot which mark
ed the forehead few drops oozed out.
Several red and blue spots. not unlike
leather shrunk by burning. were discov-
cred on different parts of the body. The
shoe of the left foot was burst open, and
a blue mark appered on the foot beneath
the aperture. The stocking exhibited no
corresponding hole. and the coat had been
uninjured. On opening the body, neither
the brain nor the Uranium showed any
appearance Of injury; little blood aP'
peared in the cavities below the lungs,
and in the lungs towards the back. which
were of dark brown color. The heart
glands and s~'aller intestines were all
infamed, but the entrails were of the nat
ural appearance. Some silver in one Of