324 Effects of Lightning. 



sion, and electrically by the all-pervading electrical atmosphere 

 around, but not being made part of the chain of discharge they 

 escaped with little harm. The conductor was melted at the top 

 and glazed, doubtless with vitrified oxide, and the chain exploded 

 in fragments all about the ship. This proves that the conductor, 

 although it preserved the ship, was not perfect in construction or 

 sufficient in size. 



Hooks and chains are objectionable because the continuity of 

 communication is interrupted by the intervening films of air. It 

 were much better to adopt the rope made of twisted copper 

 wire. It might be made of any desired size, and having per- 

 fect continuity, there would be no interruption to the passage 

 of the electricity. Being perfectly flexible, it might easiljr be 

 coiled and stowed away like any of the rigging, and it would 

 adapt itself to any flexion of the spars and masts. It should be 

 terminated above by a solid pointed conductor of copper or iron. 

 Such a protection as this we can hardly doubt would prove suffi- 

 cient, although in the case of very long ships it might be proper 

 to have more than one conductor. In steam ships there is an 

 additional protection derived from their vast metallic apparatus 

 which by its communication with the water aflbrds the best pos- 

 sible channel of discharge. 



It is true that some years ago an explosion occurred in Charles- 

 ton harbor, in the boiler of the Savannah steam packet, from her 

 being struck by lightning ; caused possibly by the sudden expan- 

 sion of the steam already generated, or the sadden generation of 

 more steam by the intense heat. In conversation with the late Mr. 

 Samuel Howard iii whose charge the boat was at the time, he 

 distinctly attributed the explosion to the lightning.* 



In the case of steam ships it may therefore be prudent to pass 

 the conductor directly into the water and not to the boilers or 

 other metallic apparatus ; although we should hardly expect any 

 mischief, especially in the Atlantic steamers, whose amount of 

 conducting surface is so prodigious. Every thing however goes 

 to prove that all ships, especially ships for passengers where the 

 risk of life may be great, should be provided with the best me- 

 tallic conductors. 



Another fact which is remarkable in the case of the packet ship 

 New York, is the energetic magnetism that attended the light- 



* He was a gentleman of uncommon intelligence and good judgment. — Sen. Ed. 



