The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-03
DOES STRIKE TWICE IN
SAME PLACE
Lightning is More Than Likely TO Re-
peat-Some Sense in Safety Super
stitiOnS.

Lightning 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 a
tree that has been deadened by Tor
mer stroke is more liable to a see
ond attack; the dry, dead branches ap-
/ pear to be better conductors.
In a report Fred G.. Plummer. gcog
rapher in the forest service, explodes
also the theory that in thunderstorm
a person is safer in the open than I'M
der a tree.
1T has often been stated" he says,
/ that the majority of persons killed
by lightning sought refuge under
trees, but this is not the fact More
than one-half of such deaths occur
in the open and less than one quarter
under trees"
The tree under which the person
stands catches and absorbs the force
of the stroke The greatest danger is
from secondary shocks or from ayng
spinters from The shattered tree. A
person standing out in the open. be-
ing the most prominent obieei. at
tracts and receives the direct stroke
of any electric current that nay come
near him.
Mr.. Plummer says that lightning
strikes more frequently in New Mex
leo and Arizona than in any other soc
ton of the country, though there are
more thunderstorms in Florida and
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
out such a theory While it has not
been practically established, it is con
sidered certain that some trees are
more liable to stroke than others. ii
bre, structure, shape and degree c.
moisture probably account for the i'm
munity or liability. On this subject
he says:
From early times there has been a
belief that certain trees more than
others are likely to be struck by light
ming. The elder Pliny said: Light
ming never strikes tha laurel This
tree was also called bay, and wreaths
of its caves were worn by ancient
rulers, both as a symbol of victory and
as protection from the lightning Of
the gods. Seneca and Plutarch held
similar beliefs, which may be traced
down even to modern times; but the
theory as now held includes nun
Der of trees, differing in various coul-
tries. This belief was so firmly es-
tablished that such trees as the beech
and locust supposed to be effective
in warding off lightning, We're planted
near dwellings.
ITO this day there are many who
still insist that the beech is never
struck, while in parts of the United
States the aspen is considered immune
from lightning. On the other hand, il
was believed that such trees as the
oak, particularly cork oak, had very
bad reputation for attracting light
ming. and this belief prevails even
now. There is a proverbs Avoid the
oak, fee from the spruce, but seek Tie
beech And also
Beware the oak, it draws the stroke 4;
Avoid the ASH it courts the flash;
Creep under the thorn, twill save
from HARM"
Mr.. Plummer reports that incom-
plete forest records show that 76,30l
trees have been struck in the nation |
forests of the West during the past
four years The records have not
been kept for the whole of that period
in all the territory affected and under
the supervision of the bureau. Light
ming causes many of the destructive
forest fires.
After heavy meal take a couple OF