Lightning, Thunder and Lightning Conductors - With an Appendix on the Recent Controversy on Lightning Conductors #260930

In the absence of Monsieur Dalibard, who was called by business to Paris, this apparatus was watched by an old dragoon, named coifl'ier; and on the afternoon of the tenth of May, 1752, he drew sparks from the lower end of the rod at the time that a thundercloud was passing over the neighborhood. Conscious of the importance that would be attached to this phenomenon, the old dragoon sum moued, in all haste, the prior of Marly to come and witness it. The prior came without delay, and he was followed by some of the prin cipal inhabitants of the village. In the presence of the little group, thus gathered together, the experiment was repeated — electric sparks were again drawn, in rapid succession, from the iron rod; the prediction of Franklin was fulfilled to the letter; and the identity of lightning and electricity was, for the first time, demonstrated to the world.