The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-05-11
Lightn1ng-Its Phenomena and Deal
1ngs-Llghtn1ng Rods.

1nSS-LlSntn1nSh hOOS-
DR.. Merriam, of Brooklyn, who is the
most learned meteorological referee in
the Union, has recently published anarti-
Gle on lightning, which has particular in
terest now that the season Of thunder
storms approaches. He claims, and
perhaps justly, that his register Of elec-
trical manifestations is more complete
than any recond of the kind extant.-
From this record, the Doctor derives the
conclusions which are stated below: 81
First. Since steamboats, have been
in use, now more than, fifty years, no
case of death by lightning has occurred
on board of a steamboat. Steamboats,
and ocean steamers have been occasion
ally struck by lightning. but no damage
has resulted to such vessels from light
ming.
Second Since railroad cars have been
in use now about thirty years, no death by
| lightning has been known within rail
road car, but two persons have been kill.
ed by lightning while standing on the
outside platforms of railroad cars. One
locomotive exploded during thunder
storm, and some of the passengers in two
trains were electrified during thunder
storm by the lightning passing on the
rails under the wheels of the cars. q
Third Since iron vessels and iron
buildings have been in use, no death by
lightning has occurred in an iron vessel or
iron building.
| FonrA. No case of death by light
ming to telegraph operator, while COM
municating over the wires, since tele-
| graphs have been in use; but Telegraph
wires are frequently struck by lightning,
land sometimes broken at the poles. Tel
teg.aph wires are also highly charged
| with electricity during the profuse dis
plays Of the aurora borealis. p
| Fifth. No case of death by lightning
| in a ship or vessel furnished with light.
ming conductors has ever been known; uor
have marine underwriters been called up
on to pay for loss or damage to q vessel
or cargo by. lightning where the vesse
was provided with conductors. as
During observations that have spread
over half q century Of time, and ever ar
immense geographical extent Of surface
he has recorded but four deaths by light
ming id buildings furnished with any kline
oflightning conductors. One of thes'
occurred at North Prairie, Wisconsin, il
1855; another at Walden, Vermont, il
1857; another in a meeting-house il
1853, and another in dwelling house ii
Westchester county, N. Y, the sam
year. q
Il pr Merriam says: .5. s.s5.saa.7ssfs.
, Metal ,foofs afford rome protection O
gainst lightning, but for greater safet
should be connected with the earth b
, metallic conductors. Shade trees, how
t ever lofty. afford no.protection to a BALD
E ing against lightning. l have records {
. shade trees being struck by lightning an
of its, glancing off from the tree to th
: building, and in case at Brandon, Miss
!, destroying several lives. a'a''-jaa .
G Feathers afford no protection, but "
i have never yet heard of person bein
# killed by lightning while on an iron bee
!. stead. The most safe petition in an NJ
d. Unprotected. house, during thunder storr
e lis a chairein the middle of the room wit
o the feet On the rounds. 1ae ,Lass1s1
t; Deaths by lightning occur in all stu
"a tions' where thunder storms prevail in Il
= -lpublic highway s, IN unprotected buildinl
% aaS vessels, under trees resorted to {
,rt sheszet from the rain. Persons are mo
p safe in the open air than under trees du
r ing a thunder storm. Ge1aoel saT
nj When "a person has been struck dov
IS by lightning the body should be drench'
'td freely with cold water, and do not 6
ID discouraged if animation is not nimme
'e lately restored; continue the drenehil
ID for hours, for we have the record Of al
ID fination being restored after . dreEchir
aitof several hours 'a'iia'a g sa'S's5s i
et Lightning in its operations witness
70 Ito many facts. The observing dairym
= in summer sees the milk while in celia
~ changed by distant thunder; the brew
finds that distant thunder suspends Il
fermentation of yeast in the beer va
OF the butcher notices that profusion
"a lightning Of a certain description caus
Ut fresh meat hanging on the stalls to becol
ID putrid and covered with o green, mo-
-fIike substance, and the agriculturist "
P. in time learn that the potato rot is pl
al dnced BY thunder storms.
~ .a ,.Physicians, if they will observe the
:" feet Of thunder storms .o9 the health
.. their patients, will End that both; amin
- and vegetable substances in the hum
y :. stomach are as much affected BY lightni
=. as milk in pans, yeast in vats. and mi
~ ~ in the butchers stalls and potatoes in I
ev rgrouna,la ,cs5ssI 10 sEii isa.ts.,ss s1js
I'd Itis frequently remarked that lightni
nd lcools the air. Oar records Of .lightni
N. and our hourly records of the temperat'
.7at toflthe atmosphere. compared togeth
.sid showltbats a great majority Of thunt
h. storms in summec are Immediately follo
IS ed by an increase of temperature.