The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-06-06
amatrspn yntslligeHter.
THE FREAKS OF LIGHTNING.
Some Results OF the Weather Bureaus
Observations.
Washington FVening Star.

Washington Fvenimg Star.
The circular on Protection from
Lightning, just issued by the wealth
er bureau, contains no mention Of the
freaks of electrical storms which that
branch of the Government service
has been recording for some years
past.
So mysterious and little understood
is the fluid electricity even now that
it is so widely utilized for mechanical
purposes that it's vagaries in nature
excite the utmostinterest. The ques-
tion recently discussed by Italian
scientists as to whether bird could
be struck by lightning seems to be an
swered in the affirmative by the de-
structicn of whole flock of wild geese
on April last. Twenty-Five of them,
flying north over Casnovia. Mich, were
slain by bolt from the sky. Such an
extraordinary event would have been
regarded as on ominous portent CEN
tury or two ago.
The action Of lightning as an explo-
sive is subject that has elected spe-
cial attention from the weather bureau
of late. Up to date no theory has been
found to account for it satisfactorily.
On April 80, 1894, brick house at
Keokuk, Ia, was struck, and as com.
pletely wrecked as if bombshell had
done the work. One day earlier a
farm house near Kiowa, Kan, the
property of D. r. Streeter, was COM
pletely ruined by bolt, the roof,
doors and windows looking as if they
had been shot full of holes. At Bar
bertown, Ohio, on June Is, 1893, the
dwelling of William Martin was liter
ally torn to fragments by similar
agency.
Inasmuch as 200 people are killed
every year by lightning in the United
States, special protection for the per-
son is surely called for. One ingen-
ious scientist has devised an umbrella
with small copper chains attached to
the ends Of the ribs. These are long
enough to reach the ground. A thun-
der storm coming up, they are loosen
ed and permitted to dangle, while the
owner Of the contrivance walks along
in perfect security. Under such cir
cumstances metal about ones body is
dangerous---for example, the wires in
ladys bonnet. But this peril may
be overcome by fastening similar
chains Of copper threads to the frame
work of the headgear. Though a
bolt should destroy the bonnet, the
electricity would spare the wearer and
pass f'into the ground.
An instance on record is that of a
lady who raised her arm to shut a
window as rain began tofall on sum-
mer's day. There was a sudden blaze
Of light, and, though she was un-
harmed, her golden bracelet disappear
ed so that no vestige Of it could be
found. A sulphurious smell was OBJ
served in the air. This, scientific
men say, is quite usual when light.
ming strikes, being due to an excess of
ozone generated by the electricity.
The atmosphere in its usual condi-
tion contains one ten-thousandth part
Of ozone. When this proportion is
increased inconvenience is felt by
| men and animals. It has been sug-
gested that sometimes persons found
dead after stroke of lightning,
though showing no marks of any in
jury, may have been suffocated by
ozone.
lightning does occasionally strike
twice in the same place. A few years
ago St. Aloysius church, in Washing
ton, suffered. A fash ran down the
lightning 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 repeated in every detail +,
the electricity leaving the rod at the
same point, jumping to the water pipe
and smashing to pieces the washstand,
which had not been ;lnended. The
Churchof the Incarcination here was
badly hit some time back. Toprevent
repetition Of the accident the edi6ce
| was protected by a very elaborate and
costly system Of rods. The most i'm
portant rod, Of course, protects the
steeple. It ought to terminate in a
sharp point; but the church authori-
ties thought it more appropriate that
it should be surmounted by cross,
on top of which was placed a arooster.
Thus the usefulness of the defen-
siye ,contrivance has been almost Who'll
ly destroyed, for SO it stands at pres
! ent.
The introduction Of lightning rods in
Roman Catholic countries was strong
ly opposed on religious grounds.
Pious persons declared that the devi-
ces were Of the devil and called them
"heretic rods" 1t was a long time
before the churches would adopt them,
though buildings of that description
have always been the greatest suffer.
ers from celestial fire, on account of
their tall steeples. During the cen
tury certain church in Carinthia was
struck so often that services we're dis
continued during the summer months.
It was hit four or five times a year
on an average. In 1778 rod was
put.on and there was no further trou-
BILE.
At Stratsund, Pomcrania, church
was the scene Of a very appalling oc-
currencc. On Sunday, the building
being full of people, a ball Of fire en-
tered and fell upon the altar, explod-
ing and doing great damage. AS to
the nature Of phenomena Of this sort
| science knows almost nothing. Such
globular lightning is seen quite often,
but nobody can guess how it is form
| ed. All that can, be said is that it is
electricity very highly concentrated.
Balls of lightning are sometimes seen
| rolling along the surface Of the sea.
Occasionally they strike vessels.
AS rule, they will burst violently
with loud noise and disastrous ef-
fects.
The Washington monument would
L i