The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-05-14
BY LIGHTNING
THREEPERSONSW WE'RE
KILLED
And Seventeen Buildings
Were Burned in March.
State Fire Marshal Tells
How Lightning Rods
May be Properly
Attached.

Columbus, May 12.-ln Ohio the
lightning season opened early and
wide this year, In March, II build
ings we're burned with a loss of SAL. >.
750; persons were killed stunned
and one had his eyes burned out.
A lightning rod, whether of steel OF
copper should be run up at one end or
corner, along the comb of the building
and down, 20 as to make circuit with
the ground
The holdfasts should be of a mater.
lal that cannot rust, and should keep
the rod firm at a distance of an inch
or two from the roof or wall so that
trash and dirt cannot be held behind II
INSPIRED PROTECTION.
King Solomon's temple, in addition
to its roof OF gold, was as stated by
the historian Josephus. ornamented
from end to end with heavily gilded
pieces of iron in lancet form. This
projected II from lightning in a tenn.
pestuous climate for a thousand years.
Although the specifications for the
temple were made by the Architect o,
The Universe, the method Is not advis.
ed for farm barns. Cluster, crown or
star points should be used rather than
the single spear
Ornamental vanes on a rod point are
unobjectionsble II they do not present
n large surface to wind pressure. The
stalwart steer is n thing Of beauty, but
he may fail to revolye and cause the
point TO be blown down at the time it.
Is most needed.
RUNNING IT INTO THE GROUND.
The ends OF the rod must go near
enough 10 the underground wator.beds
to, be in earth that Is always moist.
The electricity Of the earth, usually
negative, abides I'm the moisture there.
In. Miners. several hundred feet be.
low the surface, are sometimes shock.
ed during thunderstorm.
In most localities, hole Of sufficient
depth for the burial of a rod.end caa |
be made with a spud. One end may |
well be grounded near the main.spout |
The use OF mass Of iron OF bed of |
or water tube or copper can.
Tor holding moisture 1t the rods end
Is worth the cost II the Building to be
protected Is an expensive one.
To connect the rod with the gas pipe
rs some architects advise, is unwise.
Within a month two fires have been
reported, one from Cincinnati and one
rom Lisbon, In which lightning bored
hole In n gas pipe and then ignlted
he escaping gas.
)ODGlNG a LIGHTNING STROKE.
Avoid trees, especially tall ones hav
ng rough bark and big leaves The
moother the bark and the more point.
d the leaves, the less Is the danger.
iun from the barn. II full Of green
ay, II is the most dangerous place on
arth-the church spire being In the
ky The steam given on from rain.
ret l!ye.stoc weakens the resistance
lightning OF the air surrounding
lem, just as moisture from sweating
ay weakens II over the barn.
Among the many foolish statements
regard TO lightning are. that II IL
nwise 70 handle scissors or other a.
cles OF iron or steel during n storm;
rat one is safe in an iron bed.stcad
r featherbed, and that one Is imper.
cd by nearness TO the gas or water
ping OF the house. A piece OF steel
: iron In ones hand is so insulated /,
7 air that II Is not a source OF danger.
March, near Fremont, lady was :
'riously injured by lightning while
,cupying an iron bedstead. Houses
lving gas and water pipes are so
'ldom struck that it's no use worry
& while in them.
Because the rain-wet sides OF the .
'use furnish very much better con. "a
lct1I for electricity than the dry air j
the safest place Is IN the I
inter- OF the room. The chimney q
hich which furnishes the highest a
int on the house, should be stunned o
does not matter II windows be open o
shut or screened. Any place In the o
use is safe enough IL any one OF
e lightning rods, now being offered L
Ohio, has been properly placed on a
In Ohio. lightning kills two and a Il
II as many farmers In the summer 0
the railway kills passengers in the b
lole year. d. S. DREAMER, h
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