Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-06
LOSSES CAUSED BY LIGHTNING.
Interesting Figures Taken from ~ work
Published by the government.

A little publication has made its APP
pearance from the publishing house of
Uncle Sam, compiled by Alexander
Meade OF the weather bureau, and
containing some very interesting facts
regarding lightning and the damages
and fatalities il causes in this country.
Its primary object, says the Washing
ton NcWS, is TO show the best methods
of protection by lightning rods, but in
cidentally it gives some very unique
figures, and shows that "A few at least of
the beliefs that are common to every
class are well founded. The number Of
d~eath-dealing lightning bolts that lind
victims in this country yearly is greater
than is probably generally believed.
According to figures given by Mr.. Me-
Adie there occurred in 1892 2jl deaths
by lightning, and the wear following
there were 209. The statistics do not
20 further back than 1890, but even
this short space of time has demon
Strated that the danger seems to be on
the increase by extending over a greater
portion of the year than formerly. In
1890 the months of March, April, May,
June, july and August alone chroni-
cled fatalities. The year following
September was added, and in 1892
every month from April to December
provided a victim TO heavens fire. The
average numbe.' of persons killed yearly
by lightning is 1876. BY far the greater
number of fatalities occurred in June,
July and August.
In the eight years ending in 1892
there were 3,516 fires in the United
States due to lightning, causing a total
loss of SIP, sos, $50. This is a rather
startling statement TO those who are in-
clined 10 scoff at the danger from thun-
derstOrms. Barns, stables and gram
aries apparently had the greatest at
traction for lightning, for during the
nine years ending in 1892 2,33j build
ings of that class were struck, as against
664 dwellings and l04 churches. Flee
trio light stations and telegraph and
telephone Offices see med to have enjoy
ed a comparative immunity from dam
ger from the element with which they
are %peryaded. In certain states there
has been a marked increase in the num-
Der of lightning strokes in the last year,
particularly in Connecticut, Maine.
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan 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 well
as the Typographical conditions intiu-
ence it. 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 I'M
expected manner. As regards the SUI
perstitions 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
ways Of barns, close to cattle, or near
chimneys and ilreplaces; which is a
scientific justification of the actions of
probably five persons out of six when a
storm is prevailing.