The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-28

is the first case that local electricians have
heard of in California. The result of it
will be that all owners of valuable electric
plants, of whatever character, will be
forced to use lightning arresters, precau-
ton which has hitherto been considered
needless.
The damage to the electric light plant
by the storm was twofold, for after light
ming had destroyed the dynamo the heavy
downpour of rain caused the flooding of
the pit and did further damage.
The story OF Electrician Putnam shows
that the lightning that was carried to the
dynamo was powerful enough to destroy
life instantly. A hole was made in por-
ton of the cast-iron work big enough to
insert several fingers.
II was not more then twenty feet away
from the dynamo when the crash came, T"
said Mr.. Putnam this afternoon, land it
seemed as if the lightning filled the whole
building. The flame shot out from the
dynamo about eight feet, and the magnets,
wires and mica were thrown all over the
place. l instantly ran to the switch
board and disconnected the wires, and
there was no more light that night. The
accident was very simple one, and one
that will be guarded against in the future.
The lightning was conducted to the ma
chine by one of the wires, and of course
the dynamo was instantly overcharged
and burst. OF course, it is impossible to
tell how many volts the shock was, but its
force can be estimated by the manner in
which it burned away some of the iron.
There is one hole that was burned away
instantly, and there is not trace of any
of the missing metal. The wires that sur
round the magnets were so highly charged
that they few in all directions. and when
the mica was free it fell around in showers
sin the East all electric plants are pro-
teeted by lightning arresters, but we never
considered there was any use for them out
here. The lightning is generally of a mild
sort, but yesterday proved that we are
likely to get some wild flashes at times and
should guard against them. Of course we
are not likely for years to have q storm
center pass over US and burst as it did yes
terday, but miles of electric wires are be-
ing used every month, and flash of light
ming carried along one of these wires is
liable to cause untold damage. | had seen
similar accidents in the East, but they are
not expected here. A force of men came
over from San Francisco this morning, and
we shall have the duplicate dynamo run
ming tonight. 1t will take several days to
fix the wrecked machine. Ii / had been
oiling that dynamo when the lightning
struck it should have been charred TO a
cinder as rapidly as that piece of iron was
burned
Daniel Chisholm, president of the light
company, said to-day that he will not run
any risks. This plant is too valuable to
be at the mercy of every stray flash of
lightning that comes here" said Mr. CHS
holm. land we will resort to arresters
risht away. In one way this accident has
been valuable. 1t has taught lesson that
will be of benefit to the whole State,
Nobody, after this, will leave electric
plants unprotected. / am mighty glad
Putnam was no nearer to the dynamo
when it burst as | am afraid he would not
have been experimenting the repairs to-
day."
The effect of the shock to the plant was
felt most in the Haywards Hotel, which is
lighted with electricity. In the hotel are
over 200 incandescent lamps.
When the lightning struck the dy namos
every wire in the hotel felt the full force of
the shock. OF course the power was only
in the wires during the duration OF the
fash, but its effect on the incandescents
was remarkable. Each lamp was charged
for an instant with many thousand candle
power. The effect of the force shook the
hotel heavily and as soon as the dynamo
was destroyed the lamps went out. This
same effect was noticed on every lamp in
the town, and it was just the same as a
distinct fash of lightning.
The effect of the cloudburst near the
head of Sulphur Creek was correctly noted