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Letter to Editor
July 8, 1757
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A correspondent writes to Mr. Fleet, publisher, sharing an extract from Benjamin Franklin's letters on electricity to warn the public against sheltering under trees during thunderstorms, as they attract lightning, and notes safety differences between wet and dry conditions.
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Full Text
Mr. FLEET,
Observing in your last Monday's Paper, an Account of a Person's being killed by Lightning, who had taken Shelter under a Tree, and as that is a very common Practice in Thunder Gusts the publishing the following Extract from Mr. B. Franklin's Letters on Electricity, may not be unservicable to the Public.
"As electrical Clouds (says he) pass over a Country, high Hills and high Trees, lofty Towers, Spires, Masts of Ships, Chimneys, &c. as so many Prominences draw the electrical Fire, and the whole Cloud discharges there; dangerous therefore is it to take Shelter under a Tree during a Thunder Gust; it has been fatal to many both Men and Beasts. It is safer to be in the open Field for another Reason: When your Clothes are wet, if a Flash in its Way to the Ground should strike your Head, it would run in the Water over the Surface of your Body, whereas if your Clothes are dry, it would go thro' your Body. Hence a wet Rat cannot be killed by the exploding electrical Bottle, when a dry Rat may."
Observing in your last Monday's Paper, an Account of a Person's being killed by Lightning, who had taken Shelter under a Tree, and as that is a very common Practice in Thunder Gusts the publishing the following Extract from Mr. B. Franklin's Letters on Electricity, may not be unservicable to the Public.
"As electrical Clouds (says he) pass over a Country, high Hills and high Trees, lofty Towers, Spires, Masts of Ships, Chimneys, &c. as so many Prominences draw the electrical Fire, and the whole Cloud discharges there; dangerous therefore is it to take Shelter under a Tree during a Thunder Gust; it has been fatal to many both Men and Beasts. It is safer to be in the open Field for another Reason: When your Clothes are wet, if a Flash in its Way to the Ground should strike your Head, it would run in the Water over the Surface of your Body, whereas if your Clothes are dry, it would go thro' your Body. Hence a wet Rat cannot be killed by the exploding electrical Bottle, when a dry Rat may."
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
What themes does it cover?
Science Nature
Health Medicine
What keywords are associated?
Lightning Safety
Benjamin Franklin
Electricity
Thunder Gusts
Shelter Under Tree
Wet Clothing Protection
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Fleet
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Mr. Fleet
Main Argument
publishing an extract from benjamin franklin's letters on electricity to warn the public that sheltering under trees during thunderstorms is dangerous, as they attract lightning, and that wet clothing provides better protection than dry.
Notable Details
Quotes Benjamin Franklin On Electrical Clouds And Prominences Drawing Fire
Mentions Fatality To Men And Beasts Under Trees
Explains Wet Vs. Dry Clothing Effect On Lightning Conduction
References Electrical Bottle Experiment With Rats