The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-07-27
Destructice E,jcc.s ot LiQhfniHG.

electrical discharges, has been very
great throughout the world
1t Is estimated that at least ~ = L
sons are killed annually by iigh,nln:
III this country The average number
Of deaths by lightning has been % il
England, 9 in Switzerland, ) in Bel
.-ium. and 70 in France In France
:;lune. during q period Of thirty years
over O,010 persons were 3mitteh. o1
which 1922 were Instantly k'!l'd a.
Eirhtv were woiitlcd ami Killed
during one thunderstorm at Chateau
neuf les Monitors in lsGl, and within
one week. when tie air was highly
charged with electricity, thirty three
fearful flashes of lightning were oh
served, each bringing death TO some
victims.
During the sixteen years between
1899 and 1916. l56 vessels OF the
British navy were struck bv lightning ;
T3 men were killed and l3S injured,
and the loss of materials amounted to
oycr q million dollars; but since the
system of metallic conductors. adapted
foi vessels, devised by Sir w. Snow
IItrris, has been applied to the vessels
i'm that navy. the losses and damages
by lightning have almost. entirely
ceased. although the number Of vessels
has been greatly increased
In Fultcr's Church History 1T Is sta
ted that scarcely It great ABBEY in
England exists which once, at least,
wa, not burned down by lightning
from heaven
On the night of April Ills, twenty
four stcrple5 were struck along the
coast of Brittany and on the llth Of
January. 1915, twelve steeples suffered
asimilar fate in the RhcniSh provinces.
On the 9th ofJuly, 1883, lightning
burnt all the woodwork of the great
cathedral at Strasb)urg; and OH the
ith of August. 1888, it was struck
three times within quarter of an
hour, and 50 much damaged that the
repairs cost about s., 100000. IN
1885 lightning conductors wee placed
upon the building and stccrles, and
since then it has not been damaged
whatever Ivy lightning, although dis
charges have on several occasions Oc-
currei ia line with the top of the stcc-
pie. which is 43T feet above the ground.
On the 18th Of August. 1859, the
Tower Of st. Nazlirc, of BresCiu, was
struck, anil the subterra mean powder
magazine, containing 2,G76.O00 Tbs of
powder, belonging to the Republic of
Venice, was exploded. One sixth of
the Whole town was laid in ruins and
L., ,,,,,,.h i,.ittr,I ,,l oil
5000 persons killed.
On the 26ih Of June, }0T, the pow
der magazine of Luxembourg, con
tanning $4,000 lbs, was struck, and
besides about 80 persons Killed and
900 injured the town was ruined
Explosions and large fires, involv-
ing Il great loss, have become rather
frequent in this country. owing to the
iron tanks used for the storage of pc
troIcum being struck hv lightning
From March to August, in 1876,
over 10000, 900 gallons. and on April
10. 1871. over .O0O.O00 gallons Of oil,
and the village Of Troutman, were de
stroved IN the oil rcgicns of Pcnnsyl-
yania.
Some of the thun1crstOrms which
have prevailed in this country have
been very terrific and destructive.
During August | ith. 18th and 10th.
1872, portions of New \ Orl> State and
she New England States were visited
are some of the most terrific thunder
4storslas ever experienced. during which
over 200 dwellings, were struck and
t1aMa..e1- about ten persons were M
stanuy s.jiicj, and lG0 stunned,
Quite a Il 1lnl,cr Of barns, with tEeir
contents. hav aud cattle. were also
struck, fired, asd eoDsumed. Cars,
while runain1 "n some <,S iiic railroads.,
were SURROUNDED hv . vivid clcctilc
light, bHt nn passengers were 'niGrcd,
nlthougA they were greatly alarmed.
Telegraph wires ECTC melted los She
half mile, Telegraph instruments fno-
ken. and poles shattered in a.. diree-
tions. Que OF 1Hsese storms Occur red
at midnight, at 4 riiaa4on, Mass, Au
gust 18th. in which brilliant streams
of electricity darted across thc sky in
every direction. and the thunder which
followed was constant tor Il period OF
thirteen minutes. without tIc intcrlnis-
sion of an instant of silence. Three
hundred and thirty-one discharges
were counted in seven minutes by an
observer, and each discharge was fol-
loved hy tout and sometimes rattling
reports. whose revcrbcrations rolled
through the heavens i'll an endless
procession of majestic and terrific
sounds. During this scene, the moon
which waq about half an hour above
the western horizon, was visible but
so maguined, through the h ne and
vapor, as to appear like brilliant
flame suspended in Lhe sky. For Il
period OF twenty minutes the scene
was one of grandeur and sublimjty
rarely witnessed.
In the States of Illinois and Iowa
and the prairie country west Of tht