New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05
LIGHTNING And LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.
HUNTING FOR THUNDERBoLTs IN GERMANY-NEw-
TANGLED RODS TO CATCH GUDGE0Ns.
The xariafv of unva In, which lightning coil

HUNTING FOR THUNDERBOLTS IN GERMANY-NEW-
TANGLED RODS TO CATCH GUDGEoNs.
@The variety of ways in which lightning COIL
ducts itself is greater than the opinions and theories
and superstitons that people have about IT, said the
Professor. 81 remember boy hsa ing NY mother
say-sho spent her childhood in Germanythat IN the
province from when she the reasanry were con-
vinced not only that such thing as thunderbolt-
DonnerkeW is the German word-actually fell when
ever any object this earth struck by lightning.
but that the bolt was wedge shaped missile which
might be found and which possessed wonderful curative
properties She had known to dig In the ground
In places where electric current had bored those
great holes which frequently zee after thunder
Storm for tue purpose OF finding the mysterious bolt
None was ever found In her neighborhood, but tales
not lacking OF many picked up Ivy the grandfathers
and greatgrandiathers OF her generation and OK MI
racuous cures performed through their agency. or
long ago sent the hunderbo to tie limbo
poetry and heradry. but confess that the first time
saw tree that had been struck by lightning. beiDga
small boy the time, the theory of mechanical bolt
seemed very reasonable The stem OF the tree was iiven
from near the crown tho roots about 0nefourth is
diameter being torn on and blown 20 shreds An adze
could not done the work to truer ne though II
might have left smoother surface. Down the middle
Of the rven side OF the trunk groove looking for all
world IL made by artisans tool and lcadngnto
deep hole in the ground, three inches in diameter
felt tempted to dig for tn had pouged the
groove split the and buried itself at the bottom Of
the hole.
.where such views OF the lghtnings mode OF action
are held Is difficult conceive how there could exist
any belief In the protective power OF lightning rods yet
the very prevalent idea among uneducated people that
tho conductors catch the forked as IL descends and
send the ground not much less ridiculous than
the idea that might impsled It fell and sent
skurrying OF into other than Its original direction
II has long been known that against some Of the man
1festatons OF electrical action lightning roo Is no pro-
tectio The ball for instance which made its
way week two into one OF the editorial rooms OF
lightning rods such balls frequently seen In tee-
graph offices issuing from the swchboards being devel
OF electricity brought in by the wires The theory on
which lightning conductors have been constructed since
discnsrgc OF electricity from thnnder-cond to the
earth 10y Offering better than the ordinary conducting
charge Ia made silent than would be the case II 1t
Inv Of eIeetrIcy In thSnder-cond is 40 tremendous
Il might be possible for single rod to empty II OF the
place"
CONDUCTORS AND ATTACHMENTS.
There is Othlng in lightning-rods unless you
choose call these Dispensers new" said John Can
non. lightning-rod manufacturer, Il put up all the
rods with dispensers instead OF glass nsulators
You these glass nsulators have ali shallow on
top and this fills with water wheni rains and IA water
good conductor, why there's danger that the light
ming will get on the rod and meandering through the
roof. Now these dispensers the dispensers exhib
tied were metal points shaped like arrowhesas about
tw o inches high set rubbrr and pus OF them
rod every i've feet. AM they prevent the rod
being overcbarged melting, letting the lightning
carry of. into the building. When get
chance do "A right good Job raise the rod inch and
half above the roof by putting tho dispensers on
blocks covered with that when painters paint the
they will tbs rod with coat OF paint and
nsulate it, on dat tin roofs use lead saddles which
by their weight hold the rod In place. The two
upright OF the saddle simply Dent over the rod
and tho fastening complete. good deal or skill "a
required to put up rod securely and scientifically and
without damage to the building The men wno do II are
skilled workinen who make good wages. When send
up a church steeple pay hun 81 an hour 10
usually over 500 90 put rod ON moderately
high cpo-hough the clever they do IL In
a few hours after they get their rigging ready
Ind work for me In Boston on q steepo who was
over seventy years old.
There's nothing specially In points either. They
ordinarily made with prOnKs. Here are some, ana
though theyook good deal alike, they vary In price
with aud sharp ends OF the prons tipped with
platinum iridium That IA done so that they will not
become blunt through ottdstiOn All god points AFRO
glded with the best god-eaf for the same purpose
There st east twenty kinds OF rods TO DO had,
but OF them kckshsws gotten up for solicitors
spras of thin sheet copper around core OF Iron you
yourself how serviceable such rod ia DR.
Cannon took out OF dra very demoralized-ooung
piece OF rod The copper wrapping was gone and ths
iron core was mass rust. Then have solid four
sided rods OF galvanized and of copper OF various
Sizes hollow tubes OF copper. worth put up much es
dollar foot star rods twisted rods. rods made
things with which good takers talk the Dyes out OF
lie head o an ordinary