Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-07-17

deep enough to be in permanent moisture,
but it was the best could do then, not
having any rods with me at the time to
lengthen it, intending in few days to
pass through Lancaster with rods, would
then lengthen it and put it down in the
earth low enough for entire safety; but en-
tirely forgot it, through the pressure Of
business, ii never having occurred to my
mind until Mr.. Mahood informed me, in
IJune last, that his house was injured BY
lightning and wished me to come and as
certain, if possible, the cause why the rod
did not protect his house. In a few days
went to his house and found the point
on the rod melted down about one inch /;
the rest of the rod was all in good order.
None of the glass insulaters were broken
or out of place. From all appearances the
lightning passed down the rod until it
came opposite the tin cave trough, run
lining along that to the corner or end of the
house, then down the tin conductor passing
oRt to the next greatest object Of attrac-
ton, which was nails in the house, leaving
around the heads of them a little sulphur
smoke, bat on the inside scattering splin-
tors and otker materials in the room.
will now try to explain the cause Of
the lightning leaving the rod.
| AS I have been engaged in the light
ming rod business for seven or eight yeafa,
| think [ can do SO from practical expe-
rience, having been close observer of the
accidents and actions Of the electric fluid
from the clouds; it is obvious that the prin-
| cipal cause was that the rod did not pene
trate deep enough into the ground, that is,
was not in permanent moisture, for it is alb
s0lutcly as necessary to have moisture at
the lower end of the rod as it is to have
the glass insluators to keep the fluid from
passing into the house; the moisture at the
end Of the rod forms complete and per-
feet conductor from the rod into the great
reservoir, the earth.
Another cause was, when the fluid passed
down the rod till it came opposite the tin
cave trough, i running full Of water took
the current, as that was the first strongest
attraction it came too. The melting of
the point proves that it was an unusual
large charge; but if the lower end Of the
rod had been run down in the earth four
or five feet, I think that it would have all
passed down in the earth aud done no
harm. I never have known Of a single in
stance Of building being struck or in
jured by lightning where the rod was
properly attached and the right kind Of
points, say the copper Point. Within the
last four years, in this county, | have put
rods on twenty three buildings that had
been previously struck with lighting
some Of them were much injured; four
persons instantly killed and others serious
Ily injured; all of which I am satisfied
would not have happened if there had been
rods on them, properly attached. None Of
these buildings nor any other that | have
put rods on, has been injured by lightning
to my knowledge, except Mr. Mahood's, She
cause of which is obvious to every person
Of good common sense; forhad the rod not
been there the house might have been more
dar aged and in all probability some O
the family killed or severely injured
When the fluid got on the rod it scattered
from one point to another, thus making i
weaker, some passing to the earth ane
some to the cave trough.
! The circumstances connected with this
matter is such as felt myself honor bound
TO make Mr. Mahood such restitution az
he would in reason ask Of me, and accord
ingly did so to his satisfaction.
Ny object in making this published
statement is because some persons not &C
quainted with the utility and philosophy
Of lightning rods might be prejadicec
; against them to their own determent, no
knowing all the facts in the case.
j. BoIEs.
Platteville Wis, July 9Th, 1858.
:. Crops in Kansas.