Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-14
DEATH IN BOLTS FROM SKY
Greatest Mortality From Light.
ming Is in Ohio Valley and
Middle Atlantic States.
BY l. WARREN SMITH ONO.


Inc greatest mortality by lightning
IN the United States, considering both
the unit area and density of population
is IN the Ohio valley and the middle
Atlantic states.
II. however. density of population
aione be considered the greatest NOR
talty Is in the upper Missouri valley
ana the central Rocky mountain region
,ne average annual death rate by
ilshtnlng per 100000 agricultural la
borers in Ohio is "a: Indiana. %: Iowa
%; Illinois, H.
OF the total number killed in the
United States in 1900 2e1 n,ere j., AZ
open, l5S were in houses, 81 wera
under trees. and Sc were in barns r.
was not known where the other 151
We're A'A
IN this same year of those iniure,
and not killed 243 were in the omen 3e7
we're IN houses, 20 We're under trees 81
were IN barns, while it is not known
where ,.. ol' OF those injured were.
ihe suggestion is sometimes made
,iiat trees should be set around farm
puiiuinss winch may serve as lightning
CONDUCTORS The suggestion is a good
one anu some protection will he SCI
cured. ~ 90
Beech trees are sometimes struck nv
| iightnlng, although rarely. Inyestipa.
IONS made over a large area. in soma
German forests showed that oak treeg
were over sixty times as liable ia he
struck by lightning as the beech A.
trees nearly forty times and pine tree.
only about five times
/ Nearly one-third of all the case,
OF damaging lightning strokes in tbs
nelds occurred in the immediate yjcin.
lty OF wire fences
IN Iowa over A per cent of the los,
OF i've stock may have been caused
py contact with wires charged WITH
eiectrlclty In some of the cases it i.
eVloent that the stock was at consider
aoie Instance from the spot where the
fence was struck.
inns can be prevented by sinking
GROUND wires every fourth or fifth
post. The wire should be let down
mo the ground about two feet, and
1t is well to let the upper end nroier+
an inch or so above the tor of t7,s
post. one man in a day can easily
protect pasture of seventy-five acres
With very little expense.
A woman was killed by Iirhtni,, A.
ONO few years ago while taking
clothes from Wire clothesline. The
line ran from a post in the doorvar,5
to a tree. The tree was struck by
lightning and the limo and the body
OF the woman offered the path of least
resistance to the ground
man was killed recentIy willis
fSlnS water spout SO that the water
from the roof would run into the rain
+ water barrel.
1t is injudicious to stand near any
wire connecting with trees or poles, OF
with Wire or a metal spoutine con.
nected with the roof 1t is not safe ts
gather under. trees or to hubble to-
gether under thresfing machines OF
small houses.
In Chicago eleven persons wers
killed by a single lightning strok.
, while huddled together III a zinc-cov.
cred shanty under north side pier
; 1t is not safe to stand near animals
In open doorways or near stoves OF
) chimneys. On the other hand small
; articles of metal do not attract the
: lightning and there is no danger in
, holding them in the hand. Telephone
! wires should have good lightning ar
:, rosters when they enter the house.
, If You are near a person who has
: been struck by lightning, no matter II
y he appears dead, go to work at once
:, and try to restore consciousness
> Lightning often brings about suspend
. ed animation and life may be restored
;. by efforts to stimulate respiration anc
circulation.
Of one record of PIP persons struck
;, by lightning only "a We're killed. One
= who lives to see lightning flash neec
: not concern himself about personal in
. iI1ry from that fash
d jay