The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-04
FEAR Of LIGHTNING
GlSX GREATER IN The COUNTRY
THAN IN TOWN. 3 =.

Advice to People Who Fear the Eleco
tric Bol-Danger From Trees and
From Buildings-Where It Is Not
Wise to Stand. --~---1s
In the Century Alexander McCabe
gives encouragement and advice to peo-
pie who have a fear Of being struck Dy
Nehtning-or thunder, as some OF them
thil,f
III cen suffering which many un-
dergo rust in advance Of or during
thunderstorm is Of dual nature. The
sense Of impending danger alarms and
terr'hes, but there is also depression
Of spirit which is physical and real,
brought about by some as yet unknown
relation with the nervous system and
conditions OF air pressure, humidity.
and purity. The suffering due to de-
preston and partial exhaustion re-
Quires, from those who ere strong,
sympathy rather than ridicule. The
suffering due to alarm and fright, how
ever. is unnecessary. It is largely the
work Of the imagination. To the ner-
vous nature there IS something appall-
inc in the wicked, spiteful CLEAN Of the
lightning and the crash and tumult Of
the thunder. But such one should
remember that the fash is almost al
ways far distant, anG the thunder can
do 60 more damage than the low notes
Of . church organ. Counting all the
deaths from all the storms during g.
wear, we find that the chance Of being
killed By lightning is less than one in q
hundred thousand.
The risk in the city may be said to
be five times less than in the country.
Dwellers in city houses may be star
tied by peals Of thunder, but owing to
the great spread Of tin roofing and fair
ground connections, If buildings are
adequately protected, and the momen-
tum Of the flash provided for, the &C.
cupants many feel secure. A good
conducted, grounded rod IS cecessary
in all isolated and exposed buildings.
Barns, especially, when lined with
green crops, should have gooa light
ming conductor.
"The question Is often asked, DO
frees protect? The answer is that the
degree of protection will vary, with the
character of the tree and its distance
from water course. An oak is more
liable to lightning stroke than a beach.
The character Of the wood, the area OF
LEAKAGE, the extent and depth of root,
will determine the liability to stroke.
Another question which is often
asked is whether there is danger
| aboard a large steamship during q
thunder storm. On the contrary there
are few safer places. Sufficient metal
with proper superficial area is inter
posed in the path Of the lightning, and
| its electric energy converted into harm
less heat and rapidly dissipated. Acct
dents occur chiefly because the 5icdms
lgnorantly place themselves 10 the line
Of greatest strain, and thus form part
Of the path Of discharge. For this rea-
son it IS not wise to stand under trees,
near flag poles or masts, IN doorways
Or porches, close to freplaces, or oear
barns. Those who are not exposed in
any Of these ways may feel reasonably.
safe.
sIt should be remembered, in the
event of accident, that lightning does
not always kill. It more often results
IN suspended animation than in actual
death. Therefore, in case Of accident
try. to restore animation, keep the body
warm and send for physician with
out delay"