The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-22
Danger From Lightning.


This is the season when thunder
storms are usually most frequent and se-
we're, and every reasonable precaution
should be taken to protect both life and
property from the lightning stroke. Es-
pecially should barns be carefully pro
tected, as the gasses caused by new crops
packed in the mows are highly infam-
nable, and instantaneous combustion
often follows an electrical discharge on
or near q barn. Barns are also more ex-
posed because Of the general absence Of
the trees around them. Many houses
have been saved from discharge of elec-
tricity by the close proximity of high
trees. Indeed, there is almost entire
safety from lightning that has the full
grown Lombardy poplar tree close to 1t,
with its countless points Of attraction in
It's upward pointed leaves
While there is not absolutely safety
from lightning in even the best precau-
tions, there is really very little danger to
any building that is protected by proper
ly constructed lightning conductors Any
other than properly constructed conduc-
tors only increase the danger, as they
multiply the attraction without furnish
ing the means of leading the discharge
away fiom the building. 1t is safe
to say that one-half, and probably
much more than one-half, of the light
ming rods put up in the country are seri-
ously defective and frauds upon the
people who have bought them. Many
buildings have vastly more feet of rod on
them than are needed if properly ap-
piled, and few who buy rods know when
they are properly put upon the buildings
or when they are properly grounded in
moist earth. The best conductor when
properly applied to building is only an
increased source Of peril unless il is
grounded where there is constant moist
ure
The best lightning conductor is the
copper cable. 1t is more costly than
iron. but it is well worth the difference.
The conducting power of rod is the ex-
tent Of surface it presents, and cable
made up of many strands Of wire greatly
multiplies It's surface and conducting
capacity. Then copper is the best con
duc;or of all our cheap metals, and light
ming always follows the best conductor.
1t plays no freaks" II is often aPpar-
entlv erratic in its course, but It always
obevs the laws of attraction, and cop
per cable, with circuit around the base
Of the whole roof, with points attached
to every chimney or prominent eleva-
ton. with two or three conductors to the
earth, ending in a cistern, water-plpe or
moist ground, viii be reasonably certain
10 protect any building and is inmates
from the lightning stroke.
In the absence of conductors TO protect
a house, and indeed under all circum-
stances, it is wise to avoid exposure to
damp currents during thunder storm.
As all currents Of air are heavily charged
with dampness during such storms, they
become conductors of lightning in the
absence of stronger attraction, such as a
good lightning rod and even with good
lightning rods, the possibility Of an ex-
eessive discharge of electricity that
would make part o. it seek other con-
ductors, is a strong argument IN favor OF
closed doors and windows during cleo
trical disturbances. 1t is seldom that a
lightning stroke enters a house at all,
unless by some damp air current caused
bv an open door or window, or by a
chimney. Many buildings receive elec-
| tic strokes without penetrating the in
side at all and without even serious shock
TO the inmates.
Few Of the very many who are terror
lied BY thunder storms pause to consider
how little loss of life is caused by light
ming strokes. There are many more
people drowned each year than are kill
ed by lightning there are great many
more people killed by railroad accident
! tlll DIV llgHtuiLEs anu t-AcAO NJ ---N----
more people killed by the varied acci-
dents which prevail in even the best reg
ulated communities, than by lightning.
| None are terrorized by fear Of drowning
hundreds Of thousands travel daily on
railways without fear, and none take
thought of the countless forms in which
death comes by accident everywhere ;
but all more or less bow to fear Of light
ming, that IS not nearly as destructive OF
| life as other sources Of danger which
give them little or no concern. There Is
danger in the thunder storm, however,
and it is always wise to take every rea-
sonable precauiion against it. Good
lightning rods are always wise, and there
is always wisdom in closed doors and
windows, and always fOolhardy exposure
in taking refuge unper isolated trees dur
ing storms.