The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-05-21
Gc!rrt AlislcIIonn.


1t is calculated that at least fifty persons
are Killed by lightning every year IN this
| country, and AS lie season is approaching
when casualties of this kind are imminent n
few words Of advice and caution upon the
subject may serve as q safeguard, if carefully
| observed.
During the prevalence Of "A recent thunder
storm which visited the town and vicinity of
81. Petersburg, H., two men were suddenly
killed by stroke Of lightning, which desccn-
ded the chimney of the house in which they
were residing. One of the unfortunate VIC
tins was in the act Of winding clock that
stood on the mantlepiece, and the other was
Standing im'r ediately behind him, when both
were struck llfcless. Two women were Mt
the same time sitting in the room escaped
injury, as they happened to be seated some
distance from the chimney
When the lightning's fash and the thun.
del s crash are seen and hear! almos, sinful
'anconSly, it is a sign that danger is at hand,
and the next bolt may strike the tenement
which affords us shelley. To know the place
OF greatest safety upon such an occasion is
important knowledge. This science clearly
teaches MS, and as faithful monitor, its
voice should be heard with attention,
The earth and atmosphere nre saturated
with electricity, which ordinarily remains in
state OF equilibrium. When this condition i
disturbed We have the phenomena of thund r
storms which is simply an effort of nature
to restore the electric equilibrium between the
atmosphere and the Garth. The ATMOSPHERE
IN snch cases is converted into a huge
Lcydcn Jar; the lightning is simply
descriptive discharges through the interven-
ing air; and thunder is the sound caus.
cd by the vlolcn. and sudden compression Of
the all-prodncIng waves, hence the long con.
tnucd roll like the discharge of artilcrv.-
Lightning is the most subtitle and irresistible
power Of nature. a single flash can SILVER
the tall mast of a war-ship that might bid
defiance TO ~ cannonade, or rend the lofty oak
oil the forest to splnters i'll an instant . and
single bolt has toppled the tall church spire
to the dust in the twinklng oran eye What
is the puny power of man before such n
mighty agent! 1t is physically frall as
leather or trembling leaf. Armed in the
panopIy @! science, however, man, Ikea weak
but sk!Iiul General. can vancouver his forces
against this otherwise destructive lower, and
convert danger INTO comparative safety.
Tins discovery was made when franklin
proved the identity of lightning and electricity
with his little kite. Electricity possesses the
pecnlarpropcrty of flowing quietly along or
through what ST, called " conductors" such
as copper, gold, iron, &C.: and taking adyan.
tage OF th's, the American philosopher sug.
2tstcd the erection of tall rods OF iron or COP
per on houses and ships, to Tap the Levden
jars OF atmosphere, and convey their charges
qhIeily and safely to the earth. This sugrcs-
ton canned out has sayce. thousands of lives
ana millions worth Of property, hence all
houses Should be provided with such conduc-
tors; but as Is the case now, perhaps the
great majority Of buildings will always be
GnSuppl'ed with such agencies. In all such
cases, 1t should never be forgotten that the
lightning always seeks to pass to the earth
by the neares: prominent conductors, hence
we have an explanation Of the cause why
trees, masiS OF Ships, steepes, Of churches,
towers, and chinnrys are SO often struck
and why the persons referred to above should
not have been standing so near the fireplace
on The occasion OF a thunder storm which
| cost them their Ives In such storms, per-
ioLs In houses should sit or lie in some place
as Tar distant as possible from the chimney,
and The most exposed parts Of the wals-the
middle Of The room, if it is large, is the ga fest
| locality. Sailors on tic sea should keen as far
irom The mhStS, as possible. and farmers in
the fields should never seek shelter under
trees. Horizontal strokes oflightning some.
tunes take place and several persons have
been struck while sitting at open windows
during thunder-stoIms Every window of a
room III which pei sons are sitting. in such
cases, should be closed flash of the fund
which would pass through an open win.
dow INTO an apartment, Will be conducted
| down through the floor and y q n Il, tho r., -, l.