The Colorado statesman., 1912-11-02
IN SAME SPOT TWICE
Forest Rangers Say Lightning
Does Repeat Stroke.
Tree Once Struck Is Thereby Rem.
dered More Liable to a Second
soit-Person Is Safer Stand
Ing Under a Tree.

shington.-Lighting does strike
twice in the same place, despite the
DIG saying. Rangers in the national
forests report that single trees are
often struck many times. Indeed,
they say that a tree that has been
neadened by former stroke is more
uaDle to second attack; the dry, dead
branches appear to be better conduc-
tors.
In report Fred G. Plummer, geog-
rapher in the forest service, explodes
also the theory that in a thunderstorm
a person is safer in the open than
under tree.
1t has often been stated" he says.
that the majority of persons killed by
lightning sought refuge under trees.
but this is not 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 flying
splinters 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 and
Illinois.
He reviews some of the curious
early and present beliefs and theories
hbout the immunity of some trees
from lightning stroke. Late expert
ments and observations seem to bear
out such theory. While it has not
been practically established, it is con-
sidered certain that some trees are
more liable to stroke than others.
Fiber, structure, shape and degree of
moisture probably account for the i'm
munity or liability. On this subject
he says:
From early times there has been
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 it's
leaves were worn by ancient rulers,
both as symbol of victory and as
protection from the lightning of the
gods. Seneca and Plutarch held SINH
lar beliefs, which may be traced down
even to modern times; but the theory
as now held includes a number of
trees, differing in various countries.
This belief was SO firmly established
~ no hnoch H.
Gust, supposed to be effective in ward
Ing off lightning, were 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 i'm
mune from lightning. On the other
hand, 1t was believed that such trees
as the oak, particularly cork oak, had
very bad reputation for attracting
lightning. and this belief prevails even
now. There is a proverb: Avoid the
oak, fee from the spruce, but seek the
beech And also:
Beware the oak. It draws the stroke:
Avoid the ASH II courts the FASH
Creep under the thorn, twill save from
harm"
Mr.. Plummer reports that incom-
plete forest records show that 76.301
trees have been struck in the ma
tional 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.
Lightning causes many of the de-
structive forest fires.