CASES OF LIGHTNING DISCHARGE. 255 



The Muka Head case (October 9th, 1897,) affords another 

 example of the inefficacy of the old-fashioned single conductor, 

 which was supposed to protect a building- of any size if only it 

 were high enough, and had nicely sharpened points and an earth 

 resistance measuring a fraction of an ohm. From the interes- 

 ting report by Mr. Wills,* the Lighthouse keeper, it would seem 

 that a Hash struck the conductor, leaving evidence by tearing 

 off a gunmetal brace about half way up. The discharge then left 

 the heavy copper rod and proceeded to earth by a thin telephone 

 earth wire, thirty feet of which was completely deflagrated. 

 From some further reports collected by the writer, it would 

 seem that Fenang Hill would form an excellent site for obser- 

 vation, as the disturbances noted by the Signal Sergeant 

 stationed there are exceptionally freakful and violent. He 

 states that in April, 1898, a telegraph pole was cut in half 

 horizontally as if it were sawed off." The telegraph wire was 

 also cut in three or four places and three insulators broken. On 

 another occasion, a discharge passed through a large earthen- 

 ware jar, making one hole of several inches in diameter, and a 

 second of less than one inch, and finally excavating part of the 

 floor rear the jar. 



An attempt to explain the conditions which serve to bring 

 about results like these is not within the scope of the present 

 notes, but the writer may, perhaps, be permitted to invite 

 further lightning notes, accompanied where possible by photo- 

 graphs. Such records are of the greatest possible assistance in 

 promoting the general knowledge of a series of phenomena 

 about which there is still much to be discovered. 



G. E. V. Thomas. 



♦Kindly furnished by Mr. O. V. Thomas, Acting J. Supt. Govt. 

 Telegraphs, Penang. 



