The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-24
FRANKS OF LIGHTNING.
TAEtLECTRIc BOLT GENERALLY has
THINGS ITS OWN WAY.
It Pays But Little Attention to Rods
Tragic Experience of Some Expert
Observation-Disclosures May Kill Without
Strikin.-Ctlcr Odd Things About It.

Tragic Experience Of Some Expert
Notwithstanding MAY Kill Without
Strik;nS-Cther Odd Things About 1t.
Every year, for some seasons past,
the United States Government has
issued a little pamphlet, compiled by
Mr.. Meade, Of the United States
Geodetic Survey, giving statistical il
formation on the subject Of lightning
This pamphlet shows that while the
number OF deaths from lightning has
increased each year for some time
past, the Increase has rot been more
rapid than the growth Of population.
Last year it was about 500 for the
whole country, and it may console the
timid person to reflect that his OF her
chance of injury from this cause is
something like one in 100000, which.
as philosopher has remarked in an
other connection, is very consoling if
you can be certain that you are not the
one.
The greatest scientific authority on
the subject Of lightning is DR.. Oliver
J. Lodge, Of the University College,
Liverpool. In this country it is
probable that there is 10 man who has
Il greater fund Of practical Information
as to the nature and characteristics of
lightning than MI. William A. Eddy,
OF Bayonne, N. j., who is a follower
and close student Of DR.. Lodge:
*'The general fear OF lightning is not
entirely without reason, said Mr.. Ed
dy, in discussing the subject, ''for it
is capable Of great devastation. Ex-
detrimental scientists have been very
chary OF tackling this subject, and this
is probably the reason why the scien-
tilic knowledge Of lightning has not
kept pace with progress in other lines
Of investigation. The study Of light
ming has been greatly retarded by o
terrible accident which happened
more than 100 years ago.
Franklin may Justly be given the
honor of being the pioneer in the prac-
teal study Of lightning. After his re-
markable feat score Of Investigators
in different parts Of the world began to
make study Of lightning. Most Of
these experiments were brought to a
sudden termination by an incident
sufficiently tragic to shake the nerves
of even cool-blooded man of science.
An experimenter named Richmond, in
st. Petersburg, had built q laboratory,
which contained, among other thing,
the lower end Of a lightning rod 100
feet high, which he had erected, and
from which he had succeeded in draw
ing off electrical charges Of consider
able force. One day, while Richmond
was working in his laboratory, thun-
der storm came up. Lightning struck
the lofty rod, flashed down it and
killed the scholar at his work, badly
burning and mangling his body Thai
put an end to experiments with light
ming for the time being. Toward the
end Of the century there were one or
two fatalities in France, which acted
as further detriment, and caused
Voltaire to remark, in q quotation
which I get through DR.. Lodge: There
are some kings whom one must not
approach too closely, and lightning is
one Of these Lodge, therefore, found
an almost unworked field before him
when he began his experiments"
The essential characteristic Of light.
ming, and the one that accounts fol
most Of its vagaries, according to DR.
Lodge, is its ''impulsive rush" Ii
unscientifc language this means thai
when charge Of lightning breaks
through a cloud and starts for the
earth it moves with rush so vehe
ment that no ordinary conductor vii
turn it from the path it elects tt
follow.
"There are many cases to illustrate
: this" says DR.. Lodge. ''Here is {
! striking one: In May, 1889, lightnin!
struck and nearly demolished bricl
3 wall in small English town. Direct,
: opposite the wall at the point where j
was struck, and not six feet away
stood gas lamp. Gas is one Of tn
best conductors of electricity, and til
lamp was some feet higher than tn
{ wall. On the old theory Of attraction
Q the lightning ought to have gone TO
0 the lamp, but, as q matter Of fact,
, was not injured"
There have been repeated instance
where lightning has struck q roof al
though it had rod to protect it, an
in some cases the roof had been struc
. only few feet from the rod itself.
On this theory, Lightning rods are
little value. AS DR.. Lodge has abur
). dainty proved, lightning may traye
down rod to the earth without dom
y any damage in case the rod happens t
=, be in its path, but the stroke will SCI
dom turn aside to follow the rod.
It must not be supposed from TIL
= that it is impossible to secure in
:. munity from injury by Lightning
. Some buildings are protected by IL
h very character Of their construction.
/ Another peculiar ching about ligh
y ming, according to experts, is that
:! nerson NAV be killed or an object s.