Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-11-01
IN SAME SPOT TWICE
Forest Rangers Say Lighting
Does Repeat Stroke.
A Tree Once Struck 10 Thereby Rem
dDred More Liable to . Second
solt---Person 10 Safer Stand
lno Under . Tree.

10. .
washington. Lighting does strike
twice in the same place. despite the
old saying. Rangers In the national
forests report that single trees are
often struck many times. Indeed.
they say that . tree that has been
dsadened by former stroke II more
liable TO a second attack; the dry. dead
beanches appear to be better conduc-
tori.
In 4 report Fred G. Plummer. gcos-
Yapher In the forest service. explodes
also the theory that In . thunderstorm
person II safer In the open than
under tree.
Tt has often been stated" he says.
s'that the majority OF persons killed BY
lightning sought refuge under trees.
but this ID not a fact. More than one
half OF such deaths occur In the open
and less than one-qparter under trees.
The tree under which the person
stands catches and absorbs the force
of the stroke. The greatest danger ID
krom secondary Shocks or from flying
bplinters from the shattered tree. A
person standing out In the open, being
the most prominent object, attracts
and receives the direct stroke Of any
electric current that may come near
him.
Mr.. Plummer says that lightning
strikes more frequently in New Mexi-
co and Arizona than In any other sec
ton OF the country. though there are
more thunderstorms In Florida ana
Illinois.
He reviews some of the curious
early and present beliefs and theories
about the Immunity OF some trees
from lightning stroke. Late expert
ments and observations seem to bear
ont such q theory. While it has not
been practically established, 1t Is con-
sidered certain that some trees are
more liable to stroke than others.
Tber, structure, shape and degree OF
moisture probably account for the i'm
immunity or liability. On this subject
he says: .s - d. 81
4 From early times there has been q
belief that certain trees more than
others are likely to be struck by light
ming. The elder Pliny said: Lightning
never strikes the laurel This tree was
also called bay. and wreaths Of its
leaves were worn by ancient rulers,
both as . symbol OF victory and as q
protection from the lightning of the
gods. Seneca ard Plutarch held SINH
lar beliefs, which may be traced down
sven to modern times; but the theory
70 now held includes number OF
trees, differing in various countries.
This belief was so firmly established
that such trees as the beech and To-
Gust. supposed to be effective in ward
Ing on lightning. were planted near
dwellings.
'To this day there are many who
still insist that the beech 10 never
struck, while in parts Of the United
states the aspen is considered i'm
nune from lightning. On the other
hand, It was believed that such trees
- the oak, particularly cork oak. had
. very bad reputation for attracting
lightning. and this belief prevails even
now. There Ii proverb: Avoid the
oak. nee from the spruce. but seek the
beech And also: ~ ~ =.
s.Beware the oak, 1t draws the stroke:
Avoid the ash. 1t courts the nash:
Creep under the thorn, twill save from
HARM" e sa 81
Il Mr.. Piummer reports that incom-
plete forest records show that 76,3o1
trees have been struck In the ma
honal forests of the west during the
past four years. The records have
not been kept for the whole Of that
psrtod in all the territory affected and
under the supervision Of the bureau.
Lightning causes many of the de-