The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-06-21
LOSSES CAUSED BY LIGHTNING.
Some Interesting Figures Taken from a
Work Published by the Government.

| Nhe interesting flgures Iaken from
Work Published by the Government.
Science has been busy among the
cherished beliefs regarding everyday
phenomena OF late years, and one by
one they have been demolished and the
list of vulgar errors grows smaller. An
exception to this, says the Washington
News, is little publication that has
made its appearance from the publish
ing house of Uncle Sam, compiled by
Alexander McAdie, of the weather
bureau, and containing some very in
teresting facts regarding lightning
and the damages and fatalities it
causes in this country. Its primary
object is to show the best methods of
protection by lightning rods, but Incl
dentally it gives some very unique fig
ures, and shows that few at least of
the beliefs that are common to every
class are well founded. The number
OF death-dealing lightning bolts that
lind victims in this country yearly is
greater than is probably generally
believed. According to figures given
by Mr.. McAdie there occurred in 1899
251 deaths by lightning, and in the
year following there were 200. The
statistics do not go further back than
1890, but even this short space of time
has demonstrated that the danger
seems to be on the increase by extend
ing over a greater portion of the year
than formerly. In 1890 the months of
March, April, May, June, July and Au-
gust alone chronicled fatalities. The
year following September was added,
and in 1892 every month from April
to December provided a victim to
heavens fire. The average number of
persons killed yearly by lightning is
1876. A glance at the table shows that
by far the greater number of fatalities
occurred in June, July and August
In the eight years ending in 1892
there were 1916 fires in the United
States due to lightning, causing a to-
tai loss of S12 1858, 1885, This Is rather
startling statement to those who are
inclined to scoff at the danger from
thunderstorr1s. Barns, stables and
granaries apparently had the greatest
attraction for lightning, for during the
nine years ending in 1892 1885 build
ings of that class were struck, as
against 664 dwellings and 104 churches.
Electric light stations and telegraph
and telephone offices seemed to have
enjoyed a comparative immunity from
danger from the elehieht with which
they are pervaded. In certain states
there has been marked increase in
the number of lightning strokes in the
past year, particularly in Connecticut,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mich
igan and New York.
One Of the most interesting results of
the observations that have been made
of late years regarding lightning and
its freaks is that the geological as we'll
as the typographical conditions indu-
ence 1t. According to the statistics a
chalk formation is the least liable to
damaging lightning, while next in or
der of frequency come mari, clay, sand
and loan. With regard to trees the
oak is most frequently and the beech
the least frequently struck. Neither
does it seem to have been the highest
or most exposed trees that were struck,
as the bolt hit in the most erratic and
unexpected manner. AS regards the
superstitions or beliefs regarding the
safety or danger of certain localities
when the lightning is on the rampage,
Mr.. McAdie states that it is not judi
cious to stand under trees, in the door
way of barns, close to cattle or near
chimneys and fireplaces, which is a
scientific justification of the actions of
probably five persons out of six when q
storm is prevailing.