New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-08
LIGHTNING IN CHEAT CITIES.

in proportion TO population, fewer persons are Killed
bv lightning In the cities than in the country IL "ouia
,r,hably be impossible by any human eon'iiv"nee' 10
90 e-cualy exhauss 4unoer cloud OF Iis eiect'ei!
ss 10 repder it perfectly haimiefsi because tbe aston
sbpe nuuser OF discharges sent down from cloud IN
ts progress for hundreds of Mills over the earth
shows that it is constantly receiving fresh supplies
But it may be inferred ths the numerous lightning
rocs Of city may have some edecs in silently dis
charging the ccud and in preventing explosions which
wo Id oIherwe take place.
In referring to this subject, Professor Henry says
that DE Rsumer sent kite up into ihe sir TO hight
of 100 to 500 feet in the cord Of which was inserted
tine metal wire. DuIng thunderstorm, he drew
from the lower extremity OF the cord not mere sparks
bus dscbargeso nine or ten feetingand neh bro5
Beccnria erected ghtning-rod which WAS sevursod in
tic uide by opening tie upper part being entirely
iDsuiated Durng thunder storms, Intense discharges
darted necessarily through the opening. So constant
they, that neither the eye hardly able
perceive he inter mission. In commenting on these
resul;s, Arago says that each spark taken singy,
woulo nave given shock attended with pain; tnat
ten spa'ss would have numbed b mans arm, and
hundred proved fatal. Now, hundred sparkle pas Ell
10 every ten seconds; hence in every ten seconds
"a
mating matter sufficient 10 XII man. or III ch minu
10 kill six men. This snsyss shows the disc arging
power Of single conductor. Had Beccaria erected
d,Een il is probable that each would at the same mo-
ment have developed Results equally striking. II
might thence be inferred that If human skill could
upon Ito earth cischariug power fully equal to the
receiving power of the cloud litter could lie eec
tualy aud .fey empted Of Us dangerous cot TENS.
But such feat would be Of difficult attainment, as to
la nan eiior, tLeIe ia deGute limit, while 10 the
tremendous energy Of thunder cloud III collecting new
forces comparatively witr incessant discharges,
there appear be none. Ii lie certain, 10 yever thar
While thus unable wholly T. oisarm it, we cen sensibly
dmiulsb its Periis.
Bat another difficulty in O. wholesale depletion Of
thunder cloud Professor Henry Gays cannot
be surpOs that the psrts observed b Beccar in lie
expe iueni, and the ringing OF bells by F.a kin,
were due entirely TO the electricity received imno-
daley from The cloud. lie AYERS that by the powerful
rrdu, dan, electricity of the later aud the gatye
ton Of tue earth beneath the natural electricity of the
top o. the rod would I've forced down iaIO the EARTH
tie point would inteBs ly negative, and while ia
Il is condition would draw streams If electricity from
the surrounding air, and in this way large yUluHe Of
around the top OF the rod ould become negatively
electrified II discharge Of lightning took place its first
effect would be Beuaize, iii up, IL were, this
VOID Of electricity in The large Of nr surrounding
AID above tie poi tue rod before the remainder Of the
dschsIge could pass the earto. Toe peculiar soand
which NJ heard when discharge from thunder ciond
Is transmitted through ligL,Lng'rod may Ioss.bly be
4tritutsd o lnif eauie.
Whether he iyhtniBgrod actually attracts the elec-
tTicy from di-tsnee has been frequently discussed.
Some writers Affirm HAT ia purely pas i've; raherthe
yaii.n, than the agent. Professor Henry SANS that
from the established principles Of induction it must be
evident that, all this;s being equal, pointed rod
tlongh elevated but few feet above the ground
would 10 struck IN preference 70 any point on the
suriice and that tie propositions as 70 the space
which can be protected irum dItSharge Of ihiping
founded the sepposi'ion that the discharge
he eLns d by the action Of the rod " distance aud
tho bolt drawn 10 iiseif. He believes that elevated
pointed d. erected, Tor example, on ligh steeple
cin.iibes by is powerful Induction the Intensity Of
The Dwer part Of TIE cloud, and tbenfoe may lessen
to number Of explosive cischsrges 70 tue earth ard
Lat il tUch Cischsrge takes p!see from the cloud
from any whatever, I will be strF ctrd frvn
given disianee round tie rod and ranfrnit ham
eesy 80 the earth. lie thinks TIA, T.. exclusive
suentoa eilier one other Of thes. actions has
ed TO imperfect views ss regards the ofi,e OF the
Ugh ning-Fod. On The oIs hand, have considered
whole eject Of the rod is b lessen the number Of
discharges the way described aud have considered il
impossible tha. an explosive discharge could take
place on pointed conductor But tEs i DoG tie
care.
Is i5 true however, that when q needle is presented
10 a charged conductor TIE el,c'rcity dawn OF ei-
lsnily without IN explosion and this lie ALWAYS the
sufficient lme lie allowed for the electricity 10
escape in this way. But If tie point be suidtnly
brOuglt wilhn striking distance Of the conductor by
a rapid motion, explosive discharge viii take place.
Ia Ihis sufficient time is not given for he slower
transmission OF The electricity by what has been de-
nominated tie glowing discharge sud rupture Of Inc
air il produced as in the action Of conductor ,ermi-
Dsted by bail. Ii would thence follow. that 10 c-e
Of cloud moving rapidly across tie zenith Of rod,
there would be greater tendency 70 an exp!os'ye
discharge on the point, han when the cloud wSsnfar-
~ stionRry. For & similar reason, il point eon-
nected by wire with the earth, be directed TOWARD
insulated conductor, sud the latter DO suddenly
eleeir fed by discharge from second eonduttor,
o,plOeion viii tske place between the first conductor
and the point. IL 10 exactly 20 In the clouds which
oyeTle each other. Mr.. Wise, the baloonist COM
pletely verihcs This fact saying that when disehsfge
takes place beneath clond the earth, dscbarse is
Pare between the upper md lower part OF the
cloud. These facis, NJ wei az numerous examples
in which Lightning has actually been Seen 10 explode
on pointed rods q. vel as the number of poias which
have been melted lead 10 the conclusion that the rod
ind certain Circumstances does actually attract tho
liglanng, though when properly constructed is trans
u,i,s Il vitaour aocidens 10 the earth.
The question rocus rs 70 whether city eneoun ers
l. 4 IL IL L. ? Il =.