Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-09-19
Experiments with Lightning.

An electrified cloud decomposes the
combined electricity of every object
over which it passes, repels the cleo
tricity of the same kind as that con-
tanned in itself, and attracts the oppo-
site kind. The earth and objects be-
meath an electrified cloud are in this
manner charged by induction. When
the attraction between the opposite
kinds of electricity becomes greater
than the resistance of the intervening
air, discharge takes place. 1t is the
accumulation of induced electricity on
buildings which offers the attraction
for the opposite electricity contained
in the electrified cloud, and causes them
to be struck by lightning.
The flash will pass along the line
of least resistance at the moment when
earth and air can bear the mutual ten
sion no longer. Any accidental object
may turn the scale. As Mr.. Preece
puts it, a ship sailing calmly over the
ocean, moving railway train, horse
man galloping home for shelter from
the approaching storm, may be the
last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Everyone knows the celebrated ex-
periments by Franklin, by which he
demonstrated the identity of electricity
with lightning. Franklin, when he
sent up his kite, fastened key to the
string, and to the key silk ribbon, in
tended (silk being a non-conductor) to
isolate him from danger. For some
time he was unable to perceive any ap-
pearance which would justify his the
ory; but shower coming on, the kite
string was wetted, and, therefore, be-
came Il good conductor. Franklin, in
his impotence, presented his knuckle
to the key. and was gratified by receiv-
ing a smart shock.
1t was lucky for him that his success
was not more complete than it proved
30 be, for he would have paid dearly
for the honor of his discovery. He
thought that his kite had withdrawn
electricity from the thunder cloud,
whereas the discharge he witnessed de-
pended on the inductive action of the
thunder cloud on the kite and string;
he escaped the destruction, because the
electricity with which his kite and
its string were charged was the small
amount induced on them by the thunder
cloud. Philosophers who followed in
his footsteps did not escape so easily.
Professor Richmann, of ST. Petersburg,
was killed by lightning in the following
year. He had erected an apparatus in
the air, making a metallic communica-
tion between it and his study, where he
had provided means for repeating
Franklin's experiments.
He was describing to his friend, So
koloff, the nature of the apparatus, and
was STOPPING toward the electrometer
to observe the force of the electricity,
when a great white and blush fire ap-
peared between the rod of the electro
meter and his hand; at the same time a
sort of steam or vapor arose, which en-
tirely benumbed Sokoloff and made him
fall to the ground. Several parts of the
apparatus were broken and scattered
about, the doors of the room torn from
their hinges, and the house shaken in
every part. Tie wife of the professor,
alarmed by the shock, ran into the |
room, and found her husband sitting on l
chest, which happened to be behind |
him when he was struck, and leaning |
against the wall. He appeared to have
been instantly struck dead; a red spot !
was found on his forehead, his shoe was
burnt open, and part of his waistcoat
singed.