The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-16
LIGHTNING'S FREAKS.
SOME QUEER FRANKS OF CLEc-
TRIO DISCHARGES.


SeUSeTooS FssytVsuS.
The freaks of lightning are extraor-
dinary, says the Washington Star. A
Wooster, Ohio, in June, 1892, u two
story bay window was cut from the
main structure Of house rs IL
by knife. In the same month. at
Norwich, Connecticut, bolt went
into the ground and jerked out OF the
earth 100 feet OF iron water pipe. In
October lS43, three men were struck
Mt the bottom OF n mine shaft $50
feet below the surface. Ii was sup
posed that the electricity must have
passed down into the shaft by n
chain. There are many cases on
record where people killed by light
ming under trees have been marked
In one part OF the body or another
with the image OF n tree or of leaf.
This has been considered very mys-
terious; but it is probable that such
phenomena are largely attributable
to imagination. Marks made by
lightning are apt to be forked and
branched in such fashion as to sug-
gest likenesses of the sort To excited
minds.
There have been instances whore
lightning has entered powder mag
azine and dispersed the gunpowder
without setting il on fire. This is
more easily understood when IL is
learned that there is difficulty in set
ting fire TO gunpowder by sending n
charge from Leyden jar through IL.
The powder is simply scattered with
out being ignited. II anything in
terferes with the free passage OF the
electricity, however, the powder will
explode. There have been several
frightful disasters caused by light
ming striking powder magazines. At
midnight, August TO- 1857, n maga-
zine ut Joudpore, in the Bombay
presidency, was blown up in this way,
killing 1000 residents. At Luxem-
bourg June 26, 1907, n magazine con-
tanning twelve tons OF gunpowder
was struck, running n large part of
the town. But the worst accident OF
this kind happened at Brescia, Aug
Is, 1869, when POI, 600 pounds OF
powder belonging to the Republic OF
Venice were exploded by lightning,
destroying sixth part OF the city
and 1900 human beings.
There are some parts OF the world
whore mt certain seasons thundes and
lightning are practically incessant,
the sky being lighted continuously by
vivid flashes, while the ears are deaf
ened by roar OF celestial artillery
without pause. One OF these local
tiles is the east coast OF San Domin-
go, IA region shhnned on this account
by men and beasts Mt the rainy time
OF the year. There is II place in the
Republic OF New Genada where no.
body will live on account OF the fire.
quency OF lightning strokes. Thunder,
by the way, is caused by the electric
fluid rending the air. which has not
time to get out Of the way. The
rolling" OF thunder is due to
echoes thrown back from the clouds.
Practically all OF the 200 deaths
caused by lightning in the United
States annually occur In the five
months from April to September the
highest being in June and July.
Such strokes are very apt TO produce
II condition OF suspended animation.
Accordingly, the weather bureau
recommends that everything possible
shall be done to stimulate respira-
ton and circulation in the person
who has been struck, even though
there are no apparent signs OF life.
Cattle and sheep suffer from this
cause much oftener than human be-
ings, sometimes an entire flock OF
sheep is wiped out literally in n flash.
In nine years ending in 1892, 2,235
barns, 1O2 churches and 664 dwellings
were struck in this country. During
the same period there were about
1000 fires from lightning, with n
property loss OF $l4, 900, 900. Risk
from lightning in rural districts Is
five times greater than in cities. Oak
trees are struck fifty-four times as
often as beeches, though nobody
knows why.
Though physicists say that cleo
tricity is n form OF motion, the fluid
is a mystery yet. It's presence every
where helps TO make 10 interesting.
Children shuttle over the carpet with
their feet and thus generate enough
electricity TO light the gas with n
spark from a finger. Anybody can
do that, though the carpet must be
Of wool and very dry, AZ well as the
floor beneath. Tesla, the famous ex-
pert, makes light burn in his hand
from electricity passing through his
body. When powerful electrical
machine is being worked in n room.
projecting sharp points about the
furniture or fixtures are apt 20 be
seen in the dark tipped with light.
This Is an artificial production OF the
so-called st. Elmo's fire, which some
times appears on the masts OF yes
sells at sea, exciting the superstitions
Of sailors. On rare occasions church
steeples are illuminated in the same
strange fashion. During thunder
storms peoples heads have exhibited
the uheuouenon ench hair being