The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-07-26
Lightning Conductors.


DO conduetor can be considered a goo
one unless it is continuous, .Nnmerou
evidences OF this have been afforded b
broken or otherwise detective rods. 4
fash takes the rcd and follows il to wher
the break exists, then finds its next Ees
conductor within the building, immedi
ately opposite the spot where it discover
ed the treak crashes through the wall per
hsps where the family are sitting. and de al
death around it, 6ndipg it, way Into tb,
earth by toturous chsDpels, the stove pipe
gas-pife, or ia their absence, by shstteriD;
the wood work aud plastering. Defectiv,
rods Of any kind are mere traps to bring
ligbtnning into house, instead of keep
ing 1t out. They are the most danger
Gus fixture man can have about hin,
and though numerous crudeiy writer
paragraphs are constantly afost OF bous
es being damaged, though provided witt
rods, yet it may be assumed as absolutely
certain than in every such instance the
rod has been misera5!y out of order, OF
Pnt up meanly and cheaply by direction
OF a Penurioas owner, or by an ignorant
aud incompetent pedler. The principle
of protection developed by Frankin, re-
u ANS sound. aud sil that Is needed to re.
cure perfect immunity from danger, is a
strict adherence to what We know it de-
nauds a. .lbe coudliion of safety. As the
usual term for thunder-s OBS is coming
oD, every careful householder, should
have bis lightning rods examined, and II
found detective, put 10 perfect order
The joint should be seen to be close and
tight, for continuity is indispensable to
safety. If the Winter's storm bas bent
that part which projects above the roof,
it should be taken doSn and frightened.
See, also that the lower section which
goes into the ground has not rusted off,
As Is often the case; and this thorough
examination should be made every year.
Thunder clouds are charged With diff
ferent degrees Of inte nsity, some heavily,
some lightly. Some sweep over the earth
at greater altitude than others Those
which hang low discharge their contents,
whether Of water or electricity with the
rreatest euergy. All our thunder stor ms
with few exceptions, come up rom The
north west. Hence the eond Uctors should
be erected at those points Of the building
with 1hich the croua will come in coutaet
This Is necessary, tecause every thunder
cloud is surrounded by an electric ataos-
ybgro which pTecedes the cloud Itself
This may be easily verified by placing
the knuckle to the conductor as the cloud
approaches Spark will frequently be
jrawu from it II bile the thunder still rolls
10 the 3lst%Bce, sbowing that tbce!cctricsl
baze has s'rrady eugelope,d the building,
aud that tie rod is sile ntly conda ting tbe
huii into the earth TIE rod IL already
periog a,ins it, functions with the mere e.
lectrieai atmo-PheFe, jest "a wltould ses k
to do il assail,d by suexplo-ion iFou the
cloud Buttaousan ofrods have been put
up ty the pe tiers in direct vloisfioD otth,s
rule. eyeB when the prominent points o.
the suIidipg we're in the proper quarter.
TIE gable ends Of barns uo-t remote from
tie spf reaching cloud are selected hy
them as frequently as the proper end -
Persons Of the highest pretensI ia their
business OF making conductors are con
stsntly cou nittins tbs griesous error -
It cannot be too speedily and geuerall,
corrected. Some Eve years ago young
woman was picking cherries 10 a tree
witch stood near her fathers house. in
Warren. county, New jersey. A cloud
was seen to be approaching, trough at a
great distance, hut ii was surrounded and
preceded By highly excited electrical
atmosphere. There was DO rain, as the
cloud was a great wsy of. Yet persons
in the eighborhood saw a fash traverse
the air in sn almost horizontal line, and
shattered the tree in which the girl was
seated. and she was killed. This was IN
unusual occurrence. and yet similar dis
charge has been seen to leave cloud
and traverse a great distance, uutil it
reached stream Of rarefed air, seut up
from a barn bot recently flied with new
hay. 1t followed this stream as choice
conductor, struck aud destroyed the barn
This presence of an electrical atmos-
pbere has exhibited the most remarkable
phenomena. The great lightning storm
OF June, ls4s. was especially productive
of them. Mr. Coopers extensive rolling
mill at Trenton. N j., seemed to be char
ged in every part with electricity. Though
that storm extended over surface of 700
miles, yet no place witnessed more fin-
gular display ofits mighty energies than
Trenton. The lightning struck the earth
,here repeatedly. A workman at the
rolling mill attempted to lower the iron
damper. which was connected with iron
chainrs, but be no sooner laid bis hand on
the latter than be received shock which
Frustrated hin. A secoDd Workman
m ade the attempt. and was in turn knock
ed down, While the third also received a
severe shock. A frenau attempted to
stir the melted iron in the furnace, but
the instant his iron stirrer touched the
fluid metal be received violent shock
Other similar facts occurred, showing that
the whole atmosphere was charged With
aloetrinffu "a an eyfraordIrarY extent,