Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1915 — Lightning Season Is Here. [ARTICLE]

Lightning Season Is Here.

Warning to farmers at this time of the year to beware of lightning is being given by the state fire marshal’s department. The spring showers, 90 welcome to the agriculturalist, often become electrical storms that mean fire and destruction to the

exposed farm building. Seventy-five per cent of all lightning losses are in the country. Lightning did less damage in 1914 than perhaps in any recent year in Indiana, owing to the few severe electrical disturbances, and also to the generally increased equipment of buildings with lightning rods. There were only four hundred and fortythree lightning losses in the State during last year as Compared with one thousand and six in the preceding year. -

Evidence gleaned from investigations by the state fire marshal’s department shows that the lightning rod properly placed is certain protection. Only seven buildings equipped with rods were struck during 1914. In these seven instances, however, investigation by assistants showed the rods had been up a long time without attention or were not properly grounded. In one or two instances lightning entered buildings over telephone wires. It is interesting to note that during the year two authorities after investigations reported favorably on the use of the lightning rod. They were Prof. W. H. Day, of the department of physics, Agricultural College, Ontario, Canada, and Prof. J. Warren Smith, of the United States ■weather bureau. Were mothers and nurses properly watchful of children, the deaths of little ones by fire during 1914 would have been reduced more than (fifty ■per cent. Of twenty children burned fatally during the year, twelve were burned while playing with matches or about hot stoves, according to the fire marshal’s report. Adults fatally burned numbered forty-seven. Of these fifteen were burned in dwelling or lodging house fires. Nine perished as a result of gasoline explosions and six because of kerosene explosions. One hundred and twenty-eight adults and thirtyseven children were badly burned. The fire marshal is grappling with a mystery, introduced into the department by a down-state assistant. Under the form question as to the origin of the fire reported the cause is given as “A tireless cooker.’’What the fire marshal would like to know As what sort of a fire could be kindled by an agent obviously “fireless” and the- modous operand! thereof.