The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-09-01
FREAKS OF LIGHTNING.

i KEAhO VE L1VHlNuNU.
A Force Of Mature Not Yet Un-
derstood by Science.
Its Action - an Explosive Receiving At
tention from the weather Bureau Of
LAto-Some Extraordinary Franks
Played by Thunderbolts.
So mysterious and little understood
IL electricity even now that 1t is so
widely utilized for mechanical pur-
poses, that its vagaries in nature ex-
cite the utmost interest. The ques-
ton recently discussed by Italian sci
entists, as to whether bird can be
struck by lightning, seems to be an
swered in the affirmative by the de-
struction of whole flock of wild
geese on April 80 last. Twenty-Five Of
them, flying north over Casnovia,
Mich, were slain by a bolt from the
sky. Such an extraordinary event
would have been regarded as an
ominous portend a century or two ago.
The action of lightning as an explo-
sive is subject that has elected
special attention from the weather
bureau Of late. Up to date no theory
has been found to account for it salts
factorily. On April 80, 1894, brick
house at Keokuk, Ia, was struck and
completely wrecked as if bombshell
had done the work. One day earlier e.
farmhouse near Kiowa, Kan, the prop
erty Of D. R. Strceter, was completely
ruined by q bolt, the roof, doors and
windows looking as if they had been
shot full of holes. At BarbertOn, o.,
on June 1S, 1898, the dwelling Of Will
liam Martin was literally torn to frag-
ments by a similar agency.
lnasmuch as two hundred people are
killed every year by lightning in the
United States special protection for the
person is surely called for. One in
genious scientist mentioned by the
Philadelphia Times has devised an UNI
brella with small copper chains at
tached to the end of the ribs. These
are long enough TO reach the ground.
A thunderstorm coming up, they are
loosened and permitted to dangle,
while the owner of the contrivance
walks along in perfect security. Under
such circumstances metal about ones
BODY is dangerous-for example, the
wires in lady's bonnet. But this peril
may be overcome by fastening similar
chains or copper threads to the frame
work of the headgear. Though bolt
should destroy the bonnet, the cleo
tricity would spare the wearer and pass
off into the ground. An instance on
record is that Of lady who raised her
arm to shut window as rain began to
fall on q summers day. There was
sudden blaze of light and, though she
was unharmed, her gold bracelet dis
appeared SO that no vestige OF it could
be found. A sulphurous smell was OBJ
served in the air. This, scientific men
say, is quite usual when lightning
strikes, being due to an excess Of ozone
generated by the electricity. The at
mosphere in it's usual condition con-
tains one ten-thousandth part of ozone.
When this proportion is increased in
convenience is felt by men and ami
mails. It has been suggested that some
times persons found dead after a stroke
of lightning, though showing no marks
of injury, may have been suffocated by
ozone. ssass
Lightning does occasionally strike
twice in the same place. A few years
ago st. Aloysius' church in Washington
suffered A flash ran down the light
ming rod to within twenty feet of the
ground. Then it left the rod, passed
through twenty feet of air space to
water pipe and broke a washstand.
Six years later the same thing was re-
peated in every detail, the electricity
leaving the rod at the same point,
jumping to the water pipe and smash
ing to pieces the washstand, which had
not been mended. The Church OF the
Incarnation, in Washington, was also
badly hit. To prevent a repetition of
the accident the edifice was protected
by a very elaborate and costly system
of rods. The most important rod, of
course, protects the steeple. 1t ought
to terminate in sharp point, but the
church authorities thoughtit more ap-
propriate that it should be surnountcd
by cross, on top of.which was placed
a rooster. Thus the usefulness of the
defensive contrivance has been almost
wholly destroyed, for SO it stands at
present.
The introduction Of lightning rods in
Roman Catholic countries was strongly
opposed on religious grounds. Pious
persons declared that the devices were
of the devil, and called them hereto
rods" It was long time before the
churches would adopt them, though
buildings Of that description have al
ways been the greatest sufferers from
celestial fire, on account Of their tall
steeples. During the last century
certain church in Carinthia was struck
so often that services were discontinued
during the summer months. Itwas hit
four ar Eve times q year on an average.
In IT'S rod was put on, and there was
no further trouble. At .Stratsund, in
Pomerania, church was the scene Of
q very appalling occurrence. Ona Sum
day, the building being full Of. people,
q ball OF fire entered and fell upon the
altar, thcreupon exploding and doing
great damage. 49,. s
AS to the nature Of sphenomena OF
this sort science knowsuamost nothing.
Such gaobular lightning is seAns quite
ofte11 but nobody can guess how it ts
fofmed. All that can be said Is that it
is eaeetxicity yyery.aighly concentrated.
Ballsof lightning area sometimes seen
rol1ing along the surface of the sea.
Occasionally they strike vessenA4 AS q
rule they hurst visleatly with . loud
ndased md disastrou1c4ects.
Beefsta@R Undsk r167 1l,Ase,.