The Washington herald., 1907-08-05
SOME new LIGHTNING Lore
Interesting Studies by Government
Weather Bureau.
Though Fear of Bolts Is Great, Aver
age Number of People Killed by
Them Is Small.

Fear Of lightning received the heaviest
percentage in a census of fears recently
taken by Clark University. says the New
York Mail Yet an investigation lately
made by the Weather Bureau shows that
an average of only 500 Americans
are being killed by lightning a year. rhe
average Yankees chance Of being slain
by thunderbolt this summer is, there
fore, about one in 100000. He is ten times
more likely to be burned or scalded 10
death, and nearly four times more likely
to be shot 10 death.
Danger from lightning is largely mat
ter Of locality. however. The Weather
Bureau has compiled a chart of thunder
storm frequencies. which show tax the
belt Of most numerous visitations in
cludes all Of Florida except the sor thern-
most tip; also the lower edge Of Georgia
and the southeastern corner of Ala
bama- Here on an average forty-fiye
thunderstorms a year are experienced.
and the region is not one to be highly
recommended 10 persons suffering from
a morbid fear of these phenomena.
The zone of next greatest frequency in
cludes more northern parts of Georgia
and Alabama, and its annual average is
forty storms. Thirty-five a year are ex-
perienced in a somewhat irregular belt
north of this, and including stan more
northern parts of the States last named.
as well as the whole of Mississippi and
Louisiana. nearly all of Tennessee. the
adjacent corners Of Illinois and Ken
tucky, the southern part Of Arkansas, and
the eastern central part of Texas.
Another belt of equal intensity obtains
throughout Central Illinois and adjacent
sections Of Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri
The region from the Virginia capes to
Connecticut escapes with an average of
twenty-five such commissions. while Bos-
ton is visited by only twenty, the Tooth
meridian frequency diminishes until the
Rockies are reached, and on the Pacific
Slope there are practically no such storms
whatever.
Oddly enough, the region Of greatest
danger from lightning stroke does not
coincide with the zone of greatest thunder
storm frequency, bat includes Southern
Vermont, the whole of Massachusetts
Rhode Island, Connecticut New York
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky. Indiana
Eastern Illinois, Virginia, and the greater
part of Maryland. In this zone over five
deaths TO the 10000 square miles a year
are caused by thunderbOlts. Three to
five deaths in 10000 is the rule in a sur-
rounding region including Chicago. St
Paul Des Moines, ST. Louis. Memphis
Atlanta, and Norfolk. Between one and
three fatalities a 10000 is the rule IN a
third zone, north. south, and west of the
last described and including Eastport
Montreal, Duluth, Bismarck, Huron
North Platte, Galveston, New Orleans
and Jacksonville. In the country west
ward less than one death to 10000 miles
a year occurs.
Danger from thunderbolts is also a mat
ter of occupation. -Four times more ner-
sons Of outdoor pursuits than of indoor
occupations are struck Men. like ami
mails, are more apt to be struck when
collected in groups than when alone. Out
Of every three persons struck one sur
wives. and probably more than half wouId
recover If means were employed 10 in
duce artificial respiration. as in cases of
drowning. More than half the persons
killed by lightning are struck while
standing under trees, and in certain parts
Of the United States baTbed wire fences
are equally dangerous.
The most dangerous buildings to be in
during thunderstorms are the class in
cluding barns, sheds, and warehouses. ac-
eording TO the Weather Bureau returns
Churches and schools appear to be safer
than dwellings, stores, and Office build
ings. Wooden roofs are struck more
often than those Of slate, while those OF
metal are most seldom struck. More than
twice as many cattle as sheep are struck.
more sheep than horses, more horses than
pigs and more pigs than mules.