The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-20
TODAY IN HISTORY
Franklin Draws Lightning from the
Clouds
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20. 1910


IL was on July 20. i7iT. that Beniami,
franklin made his first experiments with
the KITE In his attempt 10 draw electricity
III" M MIhe coludG. Two years previous TO
tilS. iel"r ColinSon of the ROYAL socle-
W sent Lcydcn jar TO the Library So
elety OF Philadelphia, with distractions
now to use It,, This fell into the hands
~ ~ n,Iailmlln ,r,nd1,., who at once began series
on march IS. lfj1. Franklin began his
! famous letters 10 Colnson. Meantime
,u!her9us ,.. zero experiments with the Leyden
lai mad convinced him OF the Identity of
lightning and electricity. and he sci about
the demonstration OF the fact Tie ac-
| count given by DR. Stuber OF Phiiadel-
Rnlo, rrn an intimate personal friend of
tranklln. and pubIihsed in one OF the
earliest editions Of the works Of the great
philosopher. is as follows:
me plan which lie had originally
proposed was 10 erect on some high tow
81. e or other elevated place, a sentry box,
ltom which should rise q pointed iror,
roo, insulated by being fixed To a cake
or resin. Electrified clouds. passing over
tlIS would. ne conceived impart to IL a
portion OF their electricity. which would
pc rendered evident TO the senses by
sparks being emitted when KEY. a
~, hLIuCkle' or other conductor WAS present
Philadelphia at this time. offered no
opportunity OF trying an experiment of
inns KIND Whilst Franklin was waiting
Tor the erection of a spire, II occurred
TO him that he might have more ready
access TO the region of clouds by means
ot,, 81 d common Kite He prepared one by
attaSnlnS Two cross sticks to a silk hand
kerchlel, which would not suffer so much
from the rain as paper. To his upright
suck was fixed an iron point. The string
was, as usual, hemp, except the lower
end, which WAS silk.
Where the hcmpcd string ,errnIna,ad
Key was fastened. With this apparatus
on the appearance OF n thunder gust an.
proachlns; he went into the Common.
lla.l b. /.
ne communicated his intentions. we'll
knowing the ridlculc which too generally
lof the interest OF science. awaits uu.
successful success , experiments In philosophy. He
ram. His kite was raised \ thunder
cloud passed over 1t. No sign OF electric
lty appeared. He almost despaircd OF
success; success; when suddenly he observed the
ioose hoers OF his string move toward an
erect position. He now pressed his
knuCkle TO the key, and received a strong
spark How exquisite must have been
his sensations at this moment! On his
experiment depended the fate OF his the
orN. Doubt and despair had begun to
prevail. when the fact was asccrtained In
so clear manner that even the most
ineredulous could no longer withhold
their assent Repeated sparks were
drawn from the key. a phial was charged
n shock given, and all. the experiments
made which are usually performed with
electricity.
And thus the identity of lightning and
electricity was proved. Frankin's prop
osition TO erect lightning rods which
would convey the lightning TO the ground,
and so protect the buildings to which
they were attached. found abundant op-
ponents. Nevertheless public opinion be- |
came settled that they did protect build |
lngs. Then the philosophers raised a new |
as 10 whether the conductors
should be blunt or pointed; Franklin, |
Cayendlsh and Watson advocated points,
and wilson blunt ends. The logic OF ex-
pertinent, however, showed the advan- |
taee OF pointed conductors. and people |
persisted then In prefcrring them In tina { |
form as they have done ever since.
July 20. 1915, was the day set aside for
Iasting and humiliation by the patriots |
IL Is the date the Confederate congress |
met In Richmond in 1861. and the first OF |
sherman three battles at Atlanta, in !
1861 1t Is the birthday of Thomas Bruce,
Earl OF Elgln Q7G6); OF Elisha Dyer. the
khode Island philanthropist (1S1D; Au-
susln DAILY, the dramatist QSaS); and
Frederick j, Stlmson, the writer of law
BOOKS and novels GS55). II is the date