Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-07-29
Rain, Thunder and Lightning.


tied so abundantly of late, with these
three elements, that we are naturally led
TO an examination of the laws by which
they are governed. We often hear the
expressions,-"I rains. it thunders, 1t
lightens." But if we inquire, what rains,
what ,hunders, and what lightens9 we
shall find that we have been making the
little pronoun " it," the scape-gost of our
ignorance. In this enlightened age,
we talk just as ig%noran,ly about the nc-
ton of these elements, as the a%ncients
did about the ,hunder-bol,s of Jove.
That water falls we all know, that the
electric fluid darts hi,her and thither and
a report is heard, every n of us under
stand but the causes of such existing
phenomena, and the laws by which they
are governed, but very few of US under
stand.
Those who have paid any attention to
the matter, have noticed that a copious de-
descent of rain from the clouds, follows
almost every report of heavens artillery.
Also that the rain is usually in the direc-
ton of the lightning. If the report be
overhead; we are pretty sure to get a
drenching; but if the rumbling be in the
distance the drops descend elsewhere
we fear them not.
The experiments of DIR. Franklin,
clearly demonstrated that electricity and
lightning were the same thing and the
connection of rain with electricity, shows
that the latter has something to do with
the production of the former. The earth
and every thing around it, possesses more
or less of this electric agent. The clouds,
composed of water, inter, sulphure and
salt, which the heat of the sun causes TO
rise above the surface of the globe, are
charged with this subtle agent. The
amount of electricity depends somewhat
upon the density of the cloud. For in
stance, the lightest and most rarlied
cloud, two miles in hight, possesses but
very little electricity the moro dense
ranging within one mile, proportionallN
more and the most dense, within half
mile of the ground, is surcharged with
this powerful element.
Not only are the clouds thus charged
with electricity, but they are charged Ell
Their positively or negatively, and as sucl
they have the power of transmitting thi
current from one to another, or to othe
terrestrial objects hat are likewise conduc
tors. When two clouds approach eac
other, either by their own cohesive attraC
ton, or by atmospheric action one bein
charged positively and the other negative
ly, the subtle fluid with which they ar
charged, rushes TO embrace each othe
with such velocity as to cleave asunde
the atmosphere through which it passse
The filling up of this momentary vacuu'
by the air, produces a concussion, the n
port of which is called thunder. tt
positive cloud possesses more e%lectrici
thar naturally belongs to it, the negati'
one less the passage of the superabun'
ance Of the one to the other, produces q
equilibrium, which is uttested by the T
port-the repor, is the result of such eqr
librium. Thunder and lightning be
the same relation to each other as I
flash and the report Of n cannon
The falling of water, called rain,
connection with thunder and lightning,
doubtless attributable to more than o
cause. Some have supposed that the air
rendered adhesive and Tenacious Of mo
turs in proportion as it is charged W
electricity, and that when this electric {
id leaves the murky cloud, its capacity
holding moisture is ~lessened, in prcporti
rs it becomes rariied. Hence an
creased fall of rain after each dischar
of electricity, Or, TO use a common
pression,-It rains easy.
But to our mind the falling of wat
from the clouds, is much more attribute
to condensation than to raretactiOn. I
union and condensation of the float
clouds, by their cohesive attraction,
well as by the action Of the wind, bril-
together too much moisture to be susta
ed by the atmosphere, especially whel
is compressed by the lightning. A wa