Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-07-13

times u widespread ono. IL n All
prevalent In China ana Japan Tho
Emp3rors of japan, according Do
I\wmplcr retire during thunder
storms Into grO,tU, over which u
Cistorn Of water has boon placed,
| The water may be designed 10 oS
Iinguish fire produced by the light.
ming; but more probably IL is ia
tended ~ an additional pro,ccliup
from electrical effects. Water is 70
excellent Il conductor Of electricity,
that, under certain circumstance,
u sheet Of water affords almost COM.
plctc protection to whatever may,
he below but this docs not prevent
fish from being killed by lightning,
rs Arago has pointed out. In tho
year 1870, lightning fell o'. tho
Lake Of Xirknilz, and killed all the
fish in it, 80 that Tie inhabitants 1T
the ncighborhood were enabled -
fill twonty eight carts with ,hJ
dead fish found floating on the sur.
face Of the lake. That mere dci!tn
is no protection is woll shown by
the fact that those singular vi.ro.
GUS tubes, called iuIguritcs, whch
are known to be caused by tie nc.
tion Of lightning, often penetrate
tho ground TO depth Of thirty ~
forty feet. And instances have
bccu known in which lightnin.;
has asceLded from tho ground to
the storm cloud, instead Of follow.
ing the reverse course. From what
depth these ascending lightninA-
'pring, it is impossible to say, S;tr!
We can scarcely doubt tha. II place
underground, or noar the ground
is somewhat safer than Il place sov
cral stories above the ground floor
Another remarkable opinion Of tho
ancicnts was tho belief that tho
skins Of seals or Of snakes utfrrt
protection against lightning. Tho
Emperor Augustus, before mention.
cd, used to wear sGal-skin drcssr4
urdor the impression that he dcri3.
cd safety from them, Scal.skln
tents were also used by the RomaLs
rs Il refuge for timid persons dur,
ing severe thunder storms. In tho
Covonnes, Arago tells us, the sh,p.
herds arc still in the habit OF eui,
lccting the cast off skins Of sna&t;.
They twist them round their hats,
under tho belief that they thereby
secure themselves against the effects
Of lightning. Whether there is any
real ground for this bc.icfin the pro
tccting effects due to seal skins aud
snake skins, is not known; but
there can be no doubt that the ma
tcrial and color Of clothing are not
without their Importance. Whcu
tho church Of Chatcauncuf les Mou,
tiers was struck by Lightning dur.
ing divine service, two of the Off
ciating priests were severely iniur
cd, whlIo II third escapcd-WGu
alone woro vcstmcnts ornamcntcd
with silk. In tho same explosion,
ninc persons were killed, and up.
wards Of eighty injured. But it Is
noteworthy that several dogs were
present in the church, all Of which
were killed. 1t has also been oh
served that dark colorcd anima,s
arc more liable to be struck (othcr
circumstances being tho samc) thar
the light coIorcd. My, moro; dap.
pied and piobaId animals have been
struck and it has bcon noticed
that, after the stroke, tho hair or
the Lighter parts has como off ~
the slightest touch, while the hair
on the darker parts has not boon
affected at all. 1t seems probable,
therefore, that silk and felt cloth
ing, and thick black cloth, afford u
sort Of protection, though not a
very worthy one, TO those who
wear them. Tho notion has long
been prevalent that metallic articles
should not be worn during u thulI.
der storm. There can be no doubt
that largo metallic masses, on or
near tho person, attract danger.
Arago cites u very noteworthy in
stance of this. On the Dist Of Ju y
1919, while II thunderstorm was in
progress, there were assembled
twenty prisoners in tho great hall
of Biberach Jail. Amongst Them
stood their chief, who had boon con
domned to death, and was chained
by tho waist. A heavy stroke Of
lightning fell on the prison, and
the chief was killed, while his com
panions escaped. 1t is not quito
50 clear that small metallic articles
are sources of danger. Tho fact
tbat,whcn persons have been struck,
the metallic portions of their attire
have been in every case affected by
tho lightning. affords only Il pre-
sumption on this point, since il does
not follow that these metallic ar:l-
clcs have actually attracted tho
lightning stroke. Instances in which
Il metallic object has been struck,
while the wcarcr has escaped, arc
moro to the point, though some
will be apt to recognize hero pro
tccting agency rather than the ie-
verse. 1t is related by Kundmann
that stroke Of lightning once
struck and fused "a brass bodkin
worn by Il young girl to faston her
hnir, aud that she was not even
burned. A lady (Arago tells us)
had u bracelet fused from her wrist
without suffering any injury. Aud
VIC frequently sec in the newspapers
accounts Of similar escapes. II ii il
conceded that in these instances
the metal has attracted tho light
ming, it will, of course, be abun-
dainty clear that it is preferable TO
remove from the person all metallic
objects, such as watches, chains,
bracelets aud rings, when thnn-
dcrstorm is in progress Chambers 5
Journal.
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