The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-06
LIGHTNING.
From the Ne,o Fork Journal Of Commerce.

From the Ne,c Fork Journal Of Commerce.
No case of death by lightning in a steamboat or
railroad car, or to telegraph OPERATOR or in an
iron vessel or iron building, or vessel furnished
with metallic lightning conductors, has yet come
under observation during the many years cover
ed BIZ our record in our extensive field of research
But two deaths by lightning have occurred in
buildings furnished with metallic lightning con-
ductors; one of these was at North Prairie, Wis.
consin, July 8, 1S55-the other at Walden, Yer
mont, July lS, 1867. l have no doubt, could I
have seen these two buildings, Immediately after
they had been struck by lightning, that should
have found such traces of the lightning as would
have explained the apparent failure of the rods.
These facts will aliay the fears of many persons
who in steamboats, railroad cars or iron vessels
or iron buildings, in vessels or buildings fur
nshcd with lightning conductors during thunder
storms.
A case of suffering came under my own observa-
tions. A person in house not furnished with
rods was during thunder storms, so agitated and
distressed that all members of the family in the
house were in attendance to soothe and quiet her
mind; but on the house being thoroughly furnish
ed with metallic lightning conductors, her suffer-
ing during thunder storms while in the house
wholly ceased We recorded few years since
the death of a lady at or near Poughkeepsie, from
alarm, during thunder storm We have made
extensive inqairy of shipmasters as to the effect of
ductors upon them, and have not heard of single
instance in which the wind had carried away the
spars of a vessel with lightning chain up on it.
The impression is very general that steamboats,
are never struck by lightning This is an error;
steamboats, have sometimes been struck by light
ming, but the damage was very trifling The masts
of ocean steamers are liable to be struck.
We have q record of the lightning striking a
piece of red hot iron, that a blacksmith held
anvil with his tongs. The red hot iron gave out
abundant scintillations.
The melted iron in Mr. Coopers furnace, at
Trenton, New Jersey, was SO highly charged with
electricity, during thunder storm, that it gave
| shocks to the fireman who was probing the hot
iron with iron bar
1t is known to observing managers of daircs,
that milk is sometimes changed by distant thunder,
| the brewer finds distant thunder occasionally to
stop fermentation; and the butcher, when there is
much lightning, of peculiar kind, sees the fresh
meat in his market stall become putrid, and ex-
hibit green coloring matter upon it's surface; and
if nurses and physicins will notice, they will SEQ
that the sick arc affected by thunder storms.
The Mammoth Cave of Kentucky is free from
! lightning-thundcr has never been heard or
| lightning seen from within this Cave. In ancient
times, before lightning rods were in use, grottoes
under the water were made as place OF resort for
safety during thunder storm. At the Great
Salines of Kanawha, were infammable gas rises in
| vast columns 10 the nelSNC OF elShy leeI III
air, fears expressed that the gas might be-
come ignited by lightning, and the whole surface
destroyed by volcanic action. No fears Of any
such result need be apprehended for the gas is
covered with water that the lightning, with all its
mighty powers cannot pass through, unless fur
nishcd with covered conductor.
| have letter of recent dates from California,
in which my correspondent mentions the occur
renee of thunder storm-a rare visitor to that
part of the world.
On the Coast of Perm, thunder and lightning is
very rare, but earthquakes are of frequent occur
renee while on the opposite side of the Andes
lightning is very frequent, and earthquakes almost
unknown.
In the Arctic zone We meet with no records Of
earthquakes or thunder or lightning.
During thunder storms, we have occasionally re-
corded observations on the changes of temperature
every sixty Minutes. Only small number Of
thunder storms cool the air
lightning rods can be erected at a very small
cost; iron wire of onefourth to FIVE sixteenths of
an inch in diameter, is sufficient for a lightning
conductor; it requires no other pointing than can
be made on grindstone, or with a file. Such rods
cost less than cent per foot. Each rod should.
be in entire piece.
Cold water should be Frequently thrown on per-
sons struck down by lightning We have the re-
cord of rcsuscitation on Staten Island, many years
ago, after hours Of drenching with cold water.
Metal roofs add to the protection Of house
against lightning, but such roofs, for greater safety
shonld be connected with the earth by metallic
rods.
Since gas has been used in buildings for illu-
mnation, no serio.is results from lightning have
been experienced in which the gas pipes have
been used
We have met with no cases of loss of life by
| lightning of persons rcposing on beds with iron
| bedstcads E. MERRIAM
Brooklyn Heights, n Y, june 10, 1858.
| .f -, s 3sa
OFFICE HUNTING.