W. H. PRATl'. THE CHAMBERS LIGHTXIXG KOD. 179 



The Chambers Rod and the Phoenix Mill Fire. 



BY W. H. PRATT. 



The Phoenix Mill, corner of Western Avenue and Front Street, 

 was destroyed liy fire at the time of a violent thunder-storm on the 

 night of Sunday, the '^Oth; and as it was provided with the Cham-, 

 bers Lightning Rod, it became a matter of especial interest to learn 

 whether it was destroyed by lightning. If so, it would be the first 

 instance of the kind, so far as we had ever learned. 



Some time since I went to investigate the matter and learned from 

 Mr. Pahl, one of the proprietors, that he had supervision of the prem- 

 ises at the time; and that the mill had been stopped for several 

 weeks, for the purpose of making some additions and alterations, of 

 which work he also had charge. He informed me that the rod had 

 not been changed nor interfered with in any way, but remained just 

 as it was left by the parties who furnished and placed it there. 



It ran around the edge of the rectangular roof, enclosing an area 

 of about fifty by thirty feet, and was about eighty feet from the 

 ground, and high above all surrounding buildings. 



The mill had been cleaned out so that there was certainly no con- 

 siderable accumulation of dust in any part, and they were always es- 

 pecially careful that no grease should be dropped or accumulate any- 

 where, so that the idea of spontaneous combustion could not be en- 

 tertained for a moment. Occurring as it did, in the midst of the 

 storm of wind, lightning and heavy thunder, it was very natural to 

 conclude that it was probably struck by lightning; but I wished to 

 find direct evidence, one way or the other, if possible. 



Examination of the premises could afford no clue, as the whole 

 conc(-rn, lightning-rod and all, was engulfed in the fiery furnace 

 very soon after the fire broke out. 



Mr. Pahl told me that the watchman at Schricker & Mueller's saw- 

 mill close by, had seen the lightning strike the mill. I went and 

 questioned the watchman, who seemed a very intelligent man, and he 

 informed me that he was standing near the office door — he showed 

 me the spot — in full view of the whole upper part of the flour mill 

 at a distance from it of about 250 feet, with his face in that direction, 

 and watching the play of the lightning in the heavens, when he saw 

 a vivid flash across the sky before him, directly to the top of that 

 building; and instantly, scarcely, if at all, separable from it in time 



