The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-05 00:00:00

THE THUNDER-STORM OF THURSDAY.

(From the Standard V Saturday.
During the ter rifle storm which occurred on Thursday evening,
the electric fluid struck the house, No. 8, Anthony-street, St.
George's-in-the-East. The house in question is occupied by
Mrs. Goodfellow, a widow lady, and her family, consisting of
two daughters and a son. A young gentleman, Mr. Henry
Arundel, who had long been acquainted with Miss Eliza Good-
fellow, and was paying his addresses toilaer, was sitting with the
young lady and her sister at the first-floor window, and reading
the newspaper. A youth the son of the landlord of the Wheat-
sheaf public-houses opposite, who knew him well, was making
some signals in a playful' manner, when he saw a ball of fire
descend the leaden spout, and, after striking the ground flew
upwards, breaking four squares of glass in the window on the
ground floor, and, ascending, entered in a broken form, through
a square of glass in the window at which the party were sitting.
The whole neighbourhood was shaken, as if an earthquake had
taken place, and an immense quantity of smoke was seen to
proceed from the first-floor window of *Mrs. Goodfellow's house
house. Upon proceeding to the apartment in which the party
had been sitting one of the young ladies, who had just received
an infant child only six months old front Mr. Arundel, and had
proceeded to the cupboard in another part of the room, was
knocked down. Mr. Arundel was found struck to the ground,
and his clothes on fire. Miss Eliza Goodfellow, with great
presence of mind, immediately wrapped him up in a carpet,
and the fire was quickly extinguished. The unfortunate gen-
tleman exclaimed, "Eliza, pray for me. lam killed." It
was found that he had been severely injured by the lightning,.
His, coat, waistcoat, shirt, trowsers, and even his flannel shirt,
were all burned to a cinder on the right side, and his flesh much
scorched and injured. The lower extremities were seared and
blackened. He was exposed to the whole force of the electric
fluid, which struck him on the breast, and forced him from his
chair. The lightning descended to his feet, and his boots we e
singed and torn to pieces. The child was not much injur
and the two females were not hurt, but were greatly alarm ).
The fluid was thrown to the farthest part of the room, the c r-
pet torn up, and the furniture and the wainscot partially injured.
Mrs. Goodfellow, who• was entering her room at the moment,
saw a ball of fire dart past her, and fly out of the back window.
The effect upon her was the loss of vision for some minutes. A
number of medical men were prompt in their attendance, and
the best assistance was given to the sufferer, who was in great
danger, and very little hopes are entertained of his recovery.
Opon examining the premises it was found that the brickwork
of the chimney had been dislodged, and the leaden pipes were
broken at the top, but not melted, which, however, had taken
place lower down. This was thought a very curious circumstance.
A small plate of iron let into the stone under the parlour-window
was broken in two. The electric fluid had passed through the
iron-grating into the cellar, where it broke down some brickwork,
and finally buried itself in the earth. The empty butts and
wood in theyard of theW heatsheaf public-house were overthrown,
and the pots loosened. During the storm an elderly woman was
killed in Shadwell by the lightning. In Albion-street, Rother-
hithe, a house was unroofed during the storm. A man, who was
sitting in the middle of a room, was rendered insensible by the
electric fluid, and several minutes elapsed before he recovered
from the fit. A house in the brick-field, Rotherhit be, was dama-
ged by the lightning. The windmill in Lambeth, was also struck
by the lightning, but we believe has not sustained any material
damage. There was another storm of thunder, lightning, and
rain yesterday afternoon, but not so bad as the others.

NOVEL CHALLENGE.—The landlord of the Packet Com-
mercial Inn, Manningtree, Mr. John Stark, offers to play a
game at Cricket, himself and dog against any two gentlemen
in Essex, for any sum that may be agreed on, and at the short-
est notice.

SERIOUS CASE OF EMBEZZLEMENT BY A CASHIER.—A case
of embezzlement came to light yesterday which has excited
considerable interest. The person upon whom the delinquency
is charged is Mr. Peel, the cashier to the Bank of Manchester.
No'suspicion had been entertained towards him, by any of the
managers of the establishment, until/Thursday morning, when
he was called upon to balance his cash ; but, after poring over
the books for some time, instead of doing so, he abruptly left
the hank. It appears, that when be should have balanced his
books on the previous Thursday, he remained at home, and
pleaded indisposition as the cause of his absence. He went
again to the bank as usual on Friday (balancing day being
over), and attended regularly until Thursday, when he was
again requested to straighten his books, but, as we have already
stated, left the bank. One of the clerks was despatched after
him, and he then said he was some money deficient, hut would
procure it, and make all right. He did not, however, return
that day, and yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, his coat
was sent for to the bank. About ten o'clock, his continued
absence occasioned the manager some uneasiness and he des-
patched a messenger to his house, in Plymouth Grove, to make
inquiries, when it was ascertained that he had left home about
one o'clock on horseback, and Mrs. Peel stated that he had
gone to Bolton, to procure from her father the amount of money
in which he was deficient. Subsequently Berwick, the head
beadle, and one of the clerks went to Liverpool, to ascertain
whether he had attempted to escape from the country by any
of the vessels bound outwards. They went on board all the
vessels that were entered to sail last night or this morning, ex-
amined all the entries at the various offices, and saw all the
passengers, but it did not appear that he had even reached Li-
verpool ; and in all probability he is concealed somewhere in
this town or neighbourhood.' A search has been instituted in
Bolton, but without success. There are various reports as to
the amount of money in which he has defrauded the bank, and
at present it is believed to be about £900; but until the exami-
nation of the books is completed, of course this cannot be ac-
curately ascertained.—Manchester Courier.