The evening times., 1896-08-11
TIRES ARE NO PROTECTION
wheelman Struck by Lightning and
Instantly Killed.
Rubber a Poor InsuIator when Moist.
The Bolt Disappeared After
Leaving the Wheel.

Chicago. Aug. 1.-The claim has been
in'ide that the rubber tires on a bicycle
are q protection TO tile rider against light
ming. The wheel ridden by Walter Scott
the otner evening had rubber tires. He was
Killed and the tires were not damaged in the
least. What became, then, OF the bolt of
lightning after IL accomplished its deadly
work?
Ihere Is no doubt, the doctors say that
the young man came to his death by being
struck by lightning, and the burned
places OIL his breast and face attest that
fact. But Mr.. Scott was riding rubber
tired wheel, and rubber, under ordinary cir
cumstances. is an excellent insulator. 1t
possessed that quality In this case,
as was shown by the fact that the deadly
current utter passing down the body OF the
rider, met with so much resistance from
the rubber tire that the steel rim Of th..
rear wheel was loosened and bent.
Ihen, where did the bolt OF electricity 70?
There is no evidence to show, for not 4
mark is visible on the street where the
Young man fell Lightning is mysterious.
It's strange movements have always puz-
zled scientists, and this is another cas.,
where the most learned student in matters
electrical can only hazard guess.
1.-The moisture of the rain settling on the
tire overcame, to large degree, the Ia.
srlating quality of the rubber tire,, vent.
ured ID. II. Hyland of the city te!eer3 nh
system, THE ground being wet, the fluid
'lissipated itself over broad surface and
lett no marx. Rubber is an insulator, but
may be made very poor one hy moisture
settling upon IL. We know OF nothing that
is perfect insuiator. In tile frequent
lightning storms we have we know that
the electricity presents the appearance Of
being very close, but how comparatiyeiy
rev times do we find evidences that II
struck anything? Much of the electricity
expends itself in the moist atmosphere
Lightning doesn't require a conductor
In the ordinary sense OF the word..' said
William Carroll. superintendent of con.
struction OF the municipal electric sys
ten. in discussing the death of the bicycle
rider Lightning will 20 through an en-
orn'ons resistance. because 10 has such
high pressure. and a current strong enough
to kill a man is not deferred In Its movement
by rubber tire. In this case. however,
both the metal parts OF the wheel and the
tire itself were dripping with water and
made good Conductors. The disappear
ance Of the bolt after 1t left the bicycle is
unaccountabie. Lightning has been known
to run down telegraph pole and cut Il
groove from the top Of it four.fifths the
way down and then all signs OF IL disap-
pear. Did 1t expend its force or jump TO the
ground and spread out? You cannot figure
1t out as you can the path of an electric
crrrentgcneratedb by dynamo or battery
ADinquest was held on the body OF Scott.
s. Carlson. teamster. testified that scutt
passed him ON his wheel going south in
Calumet avenue. and had proceeded aboat
fifty feet when there came a bright flash
Of lightning and the bicycle rider fell
When the witness rea ched him he was dead.
The jury returned a verdict of death by
shock resulting from a stroke OF lightning