The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-08-05

Ma EDirOR Dear Sir 90 saturday
the 26th inst, as heavy thunder storm
was passing over this vicinity, the house
of Edward j. Tucker was struck BY
lightning, doing considerable damage,
though fortunately no one was killed,
which is truly remarkable. The charge
must have been uncommonly heavy, or
the rod an imperfect conduc.or. I've
charge seems to have struck the point
of the rod, and divide d 6rst,. At the
chimney, ono portion following the rod,
and the other down the chimnsy into
the stove in the dining room, bars sting
open the stove, ran alongihe fogf, came
in contact with nail head, within I
few inches Of q little boy, standing In
the door at the time, again dividing,
one charge passing into the cellar along
q sleeper, splintering it considerabls and
passed out. The other passed. up tie
walls Of the house, thence through the
walls to the out side, coming in contact
with the eve-trough, which proved Il, Be
better conductor than the rod, and
passed down into the reservoir, bro Re
through the side and escaped That
portion Of the charge which. followed the
rod divided near the caves Of the
house, part running down the rod and
escaping 10 the ground, the other through
the side Of the house into the buttsry,
thence into cupboard, breaking dishes
and bottles, and escaped no one can tell
where. Mrs. Tucker at the time 10 the
kitchen, and the boy, standing in the
door leading from the kitchen to She
dinipg-room, were the only persons in
the house. Their escape Was truly mi.
raculous; the only injury they received
was severe stunning. not even throw.
ing the lad from his feet. Mr.. Tucker
was at tho time in the milking yard and
was considerably stunned.
The question arrises Do the light.
ming conductors so universally in use.
serve as q protection Does it not even
increase the liability Of being struck :
In this case it seems that il did; Mr..
rs barn, staudssg but few ysrds
from bis house, on the same level, With
no conductor, rem aimed untouched while
his house, rs it we're, is covered With,
and shattered by lightning. History
furnishes proof, Of buildings, though
protected by eight rods, having been
struck BY lightning and demolished
and similar instances San be multiplied
from the annals of any country. No
doubt the principle reason Of tho failure
Of the lightuingrod, to proteo. is he
carelessnsss with which it is rut up
and we may safely say that hins..suths
Of the conductors are worse than useless,
because Of their faulty construction.
Leslie decided against the efficacy Of
lightning cond uctors, in consequence Of
pecuIier views of electrical csnduetion
which he supposed to be solely by eur.
rents Of air. which 1 think i. correct
conclusion. He estimates that shoy.
sand years would be necessary to nsu.
tralize thunder.cloud with . pointed
conductor. Nevertheless, be says " II
happiness consists merely in idea, Why
not indulge delicious orror." Franklin
confessed Of his own invention, Though
he could bottle lightning, that, if God,
for our sins should think ct to rain fire
upon US as upon cities Of old, it Is not
expected that our conductors Of wha.sv.
err size, should secure our houses againsi
. miracle. think, if rods are used at
all, poll should be erected como six or
eight feet from the building and the
rod attached. By no means let thsm..bs
brought nearer the building sought
to be protected. Respectfully TT.
Starksboro, July 2sth 1857 .