Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-11-05

while sosse 81 thS1 VIA fsin bslievs
that lightning rods serve to destroy
rather than to preserve life and proper
ty. We are asked to print something
on the subject; and We cheerfully COM
ply, promising, however, that there is
little that is new to be said, and that the
subjoined information has for the most
part been heretofors reiterated in our
columns.
Feather beds are not a protection from
lightning, and the popular belief that
they are, doubtless results from q mis-
apprehension of the laws that govern
the passage of electricity. The human
body is better conductor Of electrici-
ty than feather beds or other objects
ordinarily contained in the apartments
of dwellings,, and therefore, priori,
when the lightning enters an apartment,
the human body is likely to form one in
O chain of inductions, determining the
path of an electrical discharge, unless
better conductors are in its vicinity to
divert this action.
The only place of absolute security in
thunderstorm is an iron building; or
next in safety is q building properly
protected by lightning rods.
Houses constructed entirely of iron
manifestly stand in no need of lightning
rods at all, because the electric fluid. on
striking so good a. conductor, would
rapidly diffuse itself in all directions
and flow into the ground, provided, Of
course, that the construction of the
building is such as to allow its free es-
cape.
Are lightning rods of any real value ?
Unquestionably they are. Examples
are numberless where the lightning has
been seen to fall upon the rods of build
ings and descend harmlessly to the
earth; while the fact is undisputed that
the principal damages suffered from
lightning are in connection with build
ings that are not provided with conduc-
tors. Notwithstanding these facts, some
people are apt to be Indifferent wheth-
er their houses and stores are provided
with lightning rods or not, and are al
ways ready to give an example where
some building so provided was struck
in spite of its protection. Such cases
are quoted by the old-fashion '.practi-
cal men" with much satisfaction, be-
cause they hail in them what they are
pleased to call the victory of their sound
common sense and the discontinue Of
the scientific man. This class. is, how
ever, rapidly diminishis in numbers
under the influence q 6he extensive diff
fusion Of scientific sdeatiOn among the
people.
1t may be wei to assure unbeGevers
that the efficacy of the lightning rod is
no longer an open question, and that
any failures are attributable to baagliag
or igHorcnt construction. 1t would be
an easy matter to multiply statistics in
proof Of the assertion; but none would
carry with them more force than the
following statement obtained from the
records of the British navy, by Sir Snow
Harris, F. r. s.:
Between 1910 and 1926, before rods
were introduced, no less than thirty.five
sail of the line and thirty-five frigates
and smaller vessels were completely dis
abled; and in 200 cases recorded, 500
seaman were either killed or injured
When the lightning rod was introduced,
every mast was furnished with q cara.
oious conductor permanently fixed and
connected with bands of copper passing
through the sides of the ship under the
deck beams, and with large bolts lead.
ing through the keel and keelson, and
including, by other connections, all the
principal metallic masses employed in
the construction of the hull" Har.
ris). Since the adoption of this arrange.
ment, 1T appears that damage by light.
ming has positively vanished from the
records of the navy"
In England. the various telegraph
companies suffered serious damages by
every thunderstorn, BY the destruction
by lightning Of their poles. The pole.