The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-26
AS TO LIGHTNING.
Many Interesting Experiments Made at the
Washington Monument.


A series of interesting experiments has
been conducted by the Weather Bureau
upon the Washington Monument, which.
standing 555 feet high, in the center of fiat,
well-watered ground, constitutes a most
dangerous exposure. II was struck by light
ming on June 5. 1885, which suggested that
measures be taken for it's safety. A com
mittee of scientific men was appointed to
inyestigate the subject. 1t reported i'll fav-
or of erecting rods. and there are now four
copper conductors run ming from the top
OF the monument into pit or well fifteen
feet below the bottom of the masonry foun
dation, in which there is permanently two
feet and eight inches of water. They are
| also connected with each other by means
OF copper rods, and are studded at every
FIVE feet of their length with copper points.
three inches long, gold plated and tipped
with platinum.
| Since this protection was placed upon the
monument. it has not suffered any damage,
although the lightning plays around it every
| time there is a thunderstorm. During the
summer season Prof. McAdie, the lightning
expert of the Weather Bureau, has q camera
| constantly trained Upon it so as to take
| negatives of the flashes as they occur. A
second camera at Fort Meyer, signal SER
vice station on the Virginia side of the Pc
| tomac, and a third on the roof of the
| House wing of the Capitol are used for a
similar purpose. The distance between each
| of the cameras and the monument has been
accurately aScertained. and the photographs
| are used for the purpose OF de teruining the
| true direction of the flashes and measi uing
| their intensity and velocity. he direction
! of the flashes can be determined. the pilot
OgranlS taken from the thre8 nOintS III
view, and the measurements are made by
| triangulation. he electric energy-that is,
| thus be obtained, which Will be useful in
| treating the problem OF protection against
lightning from scientific point of view.
MIR. Meade has invented an instrument by
which lightning flashes may be anticipated.
While studying atmospheric condition ut the
tcp of the Washington Monument in thun-
der-story he noticed the effect of the air
Immediately preceding lightning fash
upon a stream of water issuing from The
nozzle of collector. When charged with
electricity, air will stand a straiu of one
and three-tenths pounds per square foot be-
fore splitting-and lightning flash is moth
ing more or less than the splitting of the
air by electricity. AS the atmospheric pres
sure became intense, the water escaping
from the nozzle of the collector tell iii
sprays until after the fash OF lightning,
when the pressure was relieved and the
stream recovered its normal condition and
proportion. This discovery suggested to
Mr.. McAdie an instrument to foretell the
approach, Of Lightning, which has been
found to be successful and accurate in
number of experiments.
he Weather Bureau advises those who
are in the neighborhood of persons struck
by lightning to make immediate efforts to
restore consciousness, because the effect of
lightning is to suspend animation rather
han produce death. Respiration and cir
culatl4n should ba stimulated. and The usual
remedies OF relief in such cases should be
administered at least for hour before
giving up the victim dead.