The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1897-10-16
CURlOSlTIES OF LIGHTNING,

If You See the Flash Never BE Alarmed
for Danger Is Gone.
There have been numerous deaths
from lightning near New York in the
last year, says the New York World.
In some cases the electric current
played peculiar pranks, and thus dem
onstrated that bolt of lightning is
something beyond the knowledge of the
scientist. 1t is impossible to forsee the
conditions that might prevail during
an electrical disturbance, and when
bolt OF lightning is of great intensity
there is no telling what it may do.
When BENJAMIN Franklin deter
mined the character of lightning and
invented the lightning rod he made a
great discovery, but since then other
investigators have added much to the
store of knowledge on the subject.
The matter of lightning rods has re-
celved a great deal of attention from
scientists in recent years, and number
OF popular fallacies have been exploded.
Various mystifying characteristics of
lightning have been explained and 9TH
er freaks OF the electric current are
more or less understood. Some years
ago there was an international confer
ence on the question of lightning rods
IN England, and the report of that
gathering, based on the observation
and experience of the members, is the
most valuable contribution to the liter
ature of the subject ever made.
While it is generally conceded that
lightning rods offer protection to build
lngs, it is admitted that under certain
conditions the most carefully erected
rods will prove unavailing. There are
many Instances in which buildings
have been struck by lightning though
provided with lightning rods. In most
OF the cases the rods were not properly
constructed and connected, though in
other cases the rods were as nearly
perfect as human ingenuity can make
them. The lightning that missed them
and struck the building can be likened
to an avalanche that is so powerful as
to sweep away all obstacles and go on
its way regardless of man and his con-
structions.
From a report issued by direction OF
the secrtary of agriculture it seems
that the average death rate from light
ming in the United States is trifle
more than 200. Practically all of the
fatalities occur in the months of April,
May, June, July, August and Septem-
Der. The maximum death rate occurs
in TIL hoc q
few people killed in November and De-
cember, but the weather bureau has no
record of a death from lightning in
January or February.
The financial loss from fires caused
by lightning for eight years averaged
trifle more than $1,500,Q0O a year.
Lightning has preference for some
soils. Thus when the soil is Of a chalky
formation lightning will strike but one.
seventh as often as when the soil is
sand Clay soil will be struck twenty
times to once in the chalky formation.
The bolts have preference for GER
tain trees. Oak trees are struck more
frequently than any other tree, and the
birch is rarely victim. It does not
seem possible that oak trees are struck
more than fifty times to one beech
tree, but the weather bureau reports
show such to be the case Pines are
struck about one-third as often as oaks.
The danger from lightning is much
less in the city than in the country,
the ratio being about one to five. In
record of eighteen deaths due from
lightning one was killed inside build
ing, eleven were outside and six were
under trees.
AS a. rule lightning that strikes a
tree does no further damage. In only
three cases out of 100 did the bolt jump
from one tree to another.
Il N
y