Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-17

with ours, a second and smaller food
sweeping down upon the wrecked city.
DANGER FROM LIGHTNING.
In view Of the frequent and vivid flashes
Of lightning at this season Of the year in
this section, o few words on the subject
will not be out Of place. Deaths from this
cause are not numerous in the mountains
Il Nevada. Yet they sometimes occur,
and . knowledge that they occur at all
should be sufficient to place people on their
guard. On Treasure Hill, in 1869, two
miners working at q windlass were in
stantly killed by lightning. The painfully
vivid twinkling flashes which sometimes
appear to play in our very faces in this
region have always seemed to us to be Ian
gerous. On the subject of lightning
striking generally, the New York sam has
> leading editorial article which will be
read with interest at this juncture by the
people Of Eureka. 1t is as follows:
Tho accidents from lightning reported
buAB buiHhitI A9fC I WY vas
Many lives have been lost by them, both
in England and in this country. A fear Of
lightning is often ridiculed, but these
fatalities indicate too general a neglect Of
proper precautions in thunder storms. 1t
is desirable that people should BE- sufi-
GENTLY apprehensive Of danger to adopt
such safeguards as science recommends,
especially where a failure to do SO may be
followed by such terrible results.
1t will be noticed that lightning does
comparatively little damage in the heart
Of large cities. The innumerable metallic
conductors to the earth which modern
architecture supplies probably carry off
in silence many discharges Of electricity
which would otherwise be explosive.
Then the highest points, such as church
spires, are usually furnished with efficient
lightning rods. Country dwellings, how
ever, and prominent unprotected build
ings on the outskirts of cities are liable
to be struck, and it is these and country
churches which have suffered most during
the present summer. 1t is altogether
probable that complete protection is af-
forded by lightning rods, when they are Of
the right size and material, and suitably
distributed and attached. Such, at least,
is the opinion Of the great majority of
competent physicists in all countries. Its
correctness is strongly confirmed by the
tho experience Of the inhabitants Of
the British colony of Natal. In that
part of North Africa. at certain seas
ons, thunder storms are Of constant occur
renee Sometimes there will be four or
i've a day, each separate and distinct from
others, and frequently they are Of great
violence. The destruction of life and
property effected by the lightning carly
demanded some preventive action; and
this was taken by providing the houses Of
the c~olonists with metallic conductors OF
<he most approved pattern. Since this
was dons, accidents from lightning, which
formerly often occurred. are stated to
have been unknown in the capital.
A foolish and dangerous habit which
some persons indulge in-we are sorry to
cay that many Of them are young girls--is
that Of sitting by an open window during
the prevalence Of q heavy thunder shower.
Displays Of lightning are doubtless attrac-
tive, but they are not worth risking ones
life for; besides they are best seen at a dis
lance. and when thunderbolts are crashing
al around the n~eighboring fields and
hedges. it is wiser to withdraw from the
window or close it. The practice We
speak Of Is by no means prudent, even in .
properly protected house; while in any
othor il involves very great risk. And
eyen in cities there have betn several in
stances within the last few years Of death
by lightning while sitting at open windows.
Neither il il wise to take refuge under q
tree during q thunder shower. There is
no objection to remaining in q wood
and, indeed, 1t is much safer there
than o. an open .plain-h care
Is taken to avoid being near the
taller trees. Sometimes. however. the
traveller must choose between remaining
on the open plain or seeking shelter under
= single tree. Under these circumstances
the best authorities seem agreed that the
safest situation is . spot as far from the
tEnnhxas the tree is high.
While il Is true that the comparative
mortalifv cau9ed nv Iphfninp Il very