Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-28
LOSSES BY LIGHTNING.
Director Sage Makes Public Report
for Present Year.


Des Moines, Nov 26-Director J. R.
Sage of the weather bureau, presented
his report for the lightning losses dur
ing the present year, at the mutual in
surance convention. This report is
not supposed to be complete, and prob
ably covers twenty per cent of the loss
es. The paper was followed by con-
siderable discussion. The report fol-
lows:
In accordance with natures law of
compensation there has been less than
the usual amount of damage from wind
and hail and lightning during the past
season in this section. About the nor
NAL conditions prevailed in May and
June, bringing the average amount of
disaster; but in July and August the
tremendous forces of nature were
mostly expended in the form of a rec
ord breaking heat and desiccatins
winds.
We have received 230 detailed re-
ports of losses by lightning, from Off
cials of about one fifth of the farmers
mutual associations of the state. 1t
may be assumed that the statistics Civ
en- in these reports cover not more than
| 20 per cent of the actual casualties
during the season. But the details
are sufficient to give US fairly cleaI
idea as to conditions under which the
losses occur, and that has been the
special objects of these inquiries.
There were So. buildings strucl,with
damage ranging from very slight to
total loss of the structure and con
tents. The number included 16 dwell
ing houses, a churches and SO barns
| OF the barns reported struck 10 were
consumed with their contents, causing
total loss of $150S7. Not one of the
dwellings or churches were consumed
and the damage to that class OF build
ings was very small The reports
show that only one of the buildings
struck was provided with lightning
rods. This exceptional case occurred
in Lucas county, June. 5. 1t was
| frame dwelling house with two cope
rods; one of the points off and the 9th
err erect. The amount of damage Il
the house was So. We have no othe
particulars as to the method OF at
taching the rods to the building, OF
whether they were properly groundet
to afford protection. 1t is Significant
fact that in total of fifty-eight build
ings struck by lightning only one was
provided with even a semblance OF
protecting rod.
! The reports give details of the Kill
ing by lightning of $50 farm animals
in the fields, or yards outside of build
ings, including 60 horses and 191 heac
of cattle, of all ages, involving loss
of $11,467. Twelve of the So horses
killed were in contact with wire
fences. OF the 191 cattle killed, 1oS
or 81 per cent were directly in contact
with wire fences.
This is but repetition of the same
old story of heavy losses directly
chargeable to the account of the dead
ly wires. 1t is a heavy penalty to pay
for slackness or Ignorance.
Some interesting notes have been
added to the reports made by the in
surance officers. In keokuk county an
electric bolt struck and burned barn
and killed steer standing near wire
fence in the barnyard, the wires con-
Meeting with the barn. In Jasper
county two steers were killed by
stroke that was conducted half mile
along the wires. In Taylor county
wire fence attached to cottonwood
tree received an electric charge there
from Of sufficient force to kill stock in
contact with the wires ten rods dis
tant. In Clay county nine steers were
killed by stroke that was conducted
over the wires 100 rods.
Numerous other facts of similar i'm
port might be cited, but these will suf-
| fee. The conclusion of the whole
matter is that in thunderstorms it is
not safe for man or beast to be up
against wire fences, or under trees.
The safest place is under good roof,
protected by well grounded rods.