Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-16
Catastrophe Averted By Eleotr,c VIA,

we learn by letter from Rev. III. g.
Hovey, that the new drill hall of the
State University, at Minneapolis. was
struck by lightning, on the 18th Of June,
with attendant phenomena of interest.
This building, locally known as the Uni
versity colosseum, stands on q bluff over
looking the Falls of St. Anthony. occupy
ing the highest ground in the city. "A
musical festival was in progress at the
1lme; cnoruses from Minneapolis and st.
Paul being assisted by Nilsson, Materna.
and other celebrities, under the general
direction OF DR.. Theodore Thomas. At 2
p. m. there were ], 900 children assembled
on the stage, and about 8, 900 persons in
the audience. A thunder storm arose,
and while the clIildren's choruses were
going on. it was noticed that the series of
electric lamps, fifteen in number, hang
ing from the dome, were lighted at each
flash of lightning, going out again at
once, and there was sence Of uneasiness
pervading the people. {
Herr Scaria had just opened the rear
door OF the stage, solo from him being
next in order, when suddenly there was
q loud report, as if of heavy ordnance,
balls of fire were distinctly seen through
the large skyllght, and following the
electric wires away from the building.
Subsequent examination showed that the
lightning first struck the flag staff sur
mounting the door, thence pierced an
oaken beam to which the staff was fast
ened, the splinters, or the concussion.
breaking the glass in the skylight. An
iron rod conducted the fluid to the net
work of electric wires below, where the
charge was divided, portion being
harmlessly distributed over the general
circuit, aud the remainder SCATTERING
several electric masts near the building.
A workman on the roof had his shoe
torn off, and his leg badly burned; and
another person in proximity to one of
the masts was temporarily paralyzed; two
or three ladies tainted away; but that
was all the damage sustained! There
was panic imminent at first, as every
one instinctively sprang to his feet and
confused cries and shouts were uttered.
Had those 1000 people made rush for
the doors, many lives must have been
sacrificed. But they were mostly per-
sons of education, trained to obey orders,
and accordingly. when told to sit down,
they Immediately did so. DR.. Thomas
with great presence of mind, had his
orchestra play, and Herr Scaria came for
ward and sang. Thus treasured, people
either remained to hear the music, or
quietly left the hall: 1t should be added
that, at night, the Colosseum was crowd
ed to it's utmost capacity to hear the ora
torio of the Creation, and quietly sat
through another thunder storm, seeming
~ satisfied that the electric wires were
good lightning rods. The lamps, however
worked titfully, now blazing with start
ling brilliancy, and then going completely
out, leaving the audience in total dark
ness, and then flashing up again. Mean
while the music went on as if nothing
unusual had occurred, both soloists and
chorus being perfectly familiar with the
score!
An impression seems to have gained
ground that the lightning was attracted
by "the nest of electric wires" clustered
in the upper part of the University Col
osseum. There is no such "nest," only
a pair Of insulated copper wires running
through the building above the ceiling
What drew the lightning was the metallic
ball surrounding the tall flag staff, fifty
feet from the wires. The staff and girder
to which it was attached were wet, hence
became conductors, carrying the fluid
along to an iron bolt, beside which it pass
ed through heavy piece of timber,
whence it leaped upon the electric wires.
by means of which it escaped from the
building There is not the slightest
doubt that the wires performed the duty
OF lightning rods in this instance, al
though not put up for that purpose Nor
is there any doubt of the grave error of
permitting a vast assembly to be gathered
into lofty building on an eminence, the
dome surmounted by staff tipped with
metallic globe, whereby the lightning
was actually invited, with no provision
Intentionally made for it's escape. The
intensity of the current fused the fine
wire circuit feeding the lamps, which, &C.
cording to Secretary King, of the Electric
Light COMPANY accounted for the spas
modlc working of the lamps at the con-
cert on Thursday night-the wonder be-
ing that they should have worked at all
after being subjected to such strain.
MIR. Noyes, foreman of the Brush Com
pany, tells an interesting experience.
He sat at work on the wires previous to
the storm, and kept on after it burst, al
though aware of his danger. At the NOM
ent the building was struck, he was splic-
ing the wires directly above the central
lamp, meanwhile taking every precaution
possible under the circumstances. For
a few minutes he lay unconscious, and
then regaining his senses descended to the
ground. He says that he did not feel any
pain until he reached terra 1rma, when
he suffered intensely in his right foot.
On examination he found that the bolt
had struck his leg below the knee, tearing
the clothing to shreds, bursting upon his
stout boot from heel to toe, and blistering
the flesh as if with hot iron.-Scsentifc
AMERICAN