Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-10-16

an irregular path. Travelling at ter
Irilic speed more than 10000
Iailes u seeond--lt is almost iustan.
taneous.
/ There are three characteristic
forms OF lightning, aiggag lightning.
/ BAH lightning, aud sheet lightning.
We are all famHier with ordinary
llislag lightning sheet lightning,
sometimes called heat lightning. is
also common BAH lightning is not
80 familiar Ia The form OF ST. 49,
.4os tire il is frequently seen OIL
Tie top oil masta and buildings Bali
lightning varies in size from half
an inch TO several feet in diameter,
/ Uurng heavy thunder shower OF
Mont Blanc ball oil fire as large as
4 pigeon esq entered the Jansen
observatory 1t moved slowly across
the room, then retreated aud eN-
ploded with terrific report, giving
u severe shock to all present. Bail
lightning has also been seen to drop
from the clouds to the earth, but this
rarely happens except ON the tops OF
high mountains.
Lightning discharges are bright
because the air along the path of
the discharge is heated white hot
The discharge, as a rule. really con
sists OF several discharges along the
same path, although they appear TO
the eye AS one flash. The first flash
usually goes but part way, ending in
Il branched discharge, and those fol
lowing bridge over the space be-
tween cloud and cloud or earth and
cloud. The flashes last from a thou
sandth of second to half a second,
and single lightning flash is
sometimes composed of 30 or more
individual flashes. While vivid light
ming is sometimes terrifying, it is
the innocent and entirely harmless
thunder which frightens M ost of us.
Brilliant flashes of light can be shut
out, but there is no escape from the
thunder, All thunder is the product
it consists of vibrations in the air
The generally accepted theory is that
thunder is caused by the pressure OF
the atmosphere closing up the hole
burned in it by the passage of the
lightning, This hole may be more
than mile in length. If such hole
were six inches in diameter the air
pressure would be nearly TO-
eco tons per mile. 1t is this enor-
nous pressure, resulting from the
vacuum caused by the lightning,
which produces the vibrations. And
these vibrations, falling upon our
ears, are known as thunder.
Thunder is entirely harmless 1t
is nothing but noise and air and, like
most noisy braggarts, is perfectly
harmless.
The effects OF lightning are varied.
IL may strike a tree or building, or
even person without the slightest
damage. And then again is may
shatter the tree. burn building, or
kill the person. The freaks of light
ming are past all understanding. A
perusal of the daily papers during
the sultry days of summer, when
thunderstorms are com mon will dis
close multitude of strange antics
accredited to lightning. 1t has been
known to undress persons. give them
a haircut and shave, tattoo them
with strange marks, remove the fill
ing from the teeth, and do many
other pranks-accordin to the daily
press or the imagination of its cor
respondents.
If lightning bolt is heavy enough
to pass from the clouds to the earth
it is certainly dangerous, and should
be avoided if possible. No matter
what anyone says, lightning rods of
fer protection to any building on
which they are properly installed.
The best way to protect building is