New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10
SOME FACTS AS TO LIGHTNING
INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS MADE AT THE
WASHINGTON NOM ENT.

INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS MADE AT THE
WASHINGTON MONUMENT
Washington March Q CSpeciaD.-A series OF in
teresting experiments has been conducted by ihe
Weather Bureau upon the Washington Monu-
ment which standing so feet nigh. in the centre Of
fiat wel-watered ground. constitutes most dan
gerous exposure. 1t was struck by lightning on
June s. 1885, which suggested that measures be
taken for its safety. committee or scientific men
was appoirtcd 10 investigate the subject. /,
uoried in favor Of erecting rods. and there
four copper conductors running from the top OF
the monument into a pit well fifteen feet below
the bottom OF the masonry foundation. In which
there is permanently feet and inches OF water.
They are also connected with each ether 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 placed upon the monu-
ment 1t has not suffered any damage, although
the lightning plays around II every time there ~
a thunderstorm During the summer season FRO
fessor Meade the lightning expert Of the Weather
Bureau. has camera constantly trained upon IL.
so as to make negatives OF the nashes as they
occur. second camera az Fort Myer. signal
service station the Virginia SD" OF the Potoina'
and third the roof OF the House wing OF the
CAPT oil used for "A similar purpose The lsiahcc
bet ween each the cameras and The monumen. has
beer accurately ascertaned and the photographs
used for the purpose OF determining the true d.
recon Of the flashes, and measuring their intensity
and velocity The direction OF the nashes can DE-
determined. the photographs taken from the 'hrre
points Of view, and tho measurements are maue
by triangu,ation The electric energy, that ls' the
horse-p power OF an electric current can mus ID"
obtained which will be useful in treating the prom
lem OF protection against lightning from scieh'inc
point OF view.
Mr.. Meade has invented an instrument by VINO"
lightning flashes may be anticipated While sludy
ing atmospheric conditions at the top OF the WASH
ngton Monument in thunderstorm ne houce'
the effect OF the air Immediately preceding hs"'-
ming fash upon stream Of water Msuihs from
the nozzle OF a collector. When charged win e'eo-
tricity, air viii stand a strain OF one ana three
tenths pounds per square foot before splitting
and a lightning fash is nothing more nor 'es'
than the splitting of the air by electricity As the
atmospheric pressure became intense. the water es.
Gaping from the nozzle OF the collector fe IN spas
uhui AFTER the Hash OF lightning when the PIessu,I
was renewed and the stream recovered It's horIna,
conation and proportion. This discovery ,suRges.cu
10 MI Meade an instrument to foreteil the ap,
proach or lightning. which has been found 10 De
ments.
=, me weather Bureau advises those who are IN
me heighDorhood OF persons struck by ighthihg
10 make immediate efforts 10 restore consciousness
because the effect Of lightning Is to suspend anima
circulation should be stimulated and the usnai
remedies FOR relief In such cases should be ad-
ninis,ered at least for an hour before giving up
the victim as dead.