New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17

into this question of distribution. The size of a
State counts for something, Of course and so
does density of population. But it must also be
borne in mind that some parts of the country
experience a greater abundance of thunder
I storms than do others So that from this one
cause alone results a great inequality in the
. chances of harm. The region of greatest fire.
quency lies, approximately, between the Mis-
souri, Valley and the AHaghantes The Gulf
States are visited almost as often. square mile
for square mile, and the New England States
by an appreciably smaller proportion The
Rocky Mountain region is not altogether exempt,
but it has few thunderstorms whereas the Pa
cihc Coast is practically free from them. No
fatal cases were reported last year from Cali
fornia, Nevada, Oregon or Washington Idaho.
Montana. Colorado, New-Mexfco and Arizona.
however, each reported from one to nine
Professor Alfred ]. Henry. who has digested
and arranged the Governments data this
subject, declares that when death results from
lightning, it usually occurs Immediately OF the
persons who were struck but not killed some
recovered entirely and some suffered from
permanent paralysis of the legs or arms. The
largest number killed by a single stroke
five
Many eccentrtcities have been observed in the
paths taken by lightning, when this could De
traced along the walls of buildings that had
gard to human beings. Many Of its victims are
badly marked and burned. Their clothing is
often set on fire, but cases are not uncommon in
which it is impossible find any outward trace
of the electric fluid. This remarkable dssir1i-
larity in effect was strikingly illustrated by the
appearance of two brothers who were killed
while driving in a dogcart They We're found
lying on the ground where they fell from the
vehicle. One body bore a number of small burns
on the chest, abdomen and back, and the shirt
and waistcoat We're distinctly scorched. The
other body was without visible injury. Scarcely
less surprising is the fact that persons whose
clothing is set on fire by lightning occasionally
survive the stroke Several possible explana-
tions Of these exceptional cases are offered. It
seems probable that one person can stand more
electricity than another. And if, as DR.. Oliver
Lodge holds lightning is an oscillatory dis
charge, it should occasion no surprise if it az
fected only the exterior of a body and did not
penetrate to any great depth.
Still another freak that was reported last
year the killing Of team of horses at
tached to q wagon and OF a man seated in the A.,
back part OF the latter, while the driver was .
not seriously injured. This fact leads Professor ,
Henry to remark that the zone OF danger from
a thunderbolt is probably larger than has been
supposed The old notion that it had a
breadth of only a few inches. In some photo
graphs OF lightning the HASH assumes a ribbon
like form and has width of scarcely less than
thirty or forty feet 1t is not improbable that
in these bands there are splits or lanes Of i'm
nunity which would account for the curious
exemption just mentioned.
Nearly half of the lightning strokes reported
occur out in the open 81 per cent in houses II
per cent under trees and Q per cent in barns.
1t would not be safe to conclude from these fig
ures that one is less likely 10 be hit while IN a
barn or under a tree than when in a house or a
field Rightly to construe the statistics one
must also know how many people in houses and
in the open were unframed. 1t is generally
conceded that seeking shelter under the
branches of tree is about the riskiest possible
proceeding during a thunderstorm. 1t is much
safer to take a wetting and keep in the open.
unless it is practicable to go indoors However,
even in a house one should avoid approaching
too closely to an open window or door. 1t is bet
ter to sit or stand near the centre Of a room
Those who are out of doors should keep away
from wire fences as well as trees
The wire cIothesline was the cause OF at leasN
a dozen deaths last year. That number q
women were struck by lightning and killed
while removing clothing from the line Metal
is altogether too good conductor of electricity
TO be safe neghbor under such circumstances
Professor Henry says that wire clothesline
ought never to be permitted TO come within
fifty feet of a dwelling Much less should il