Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-23

ry point of the compass, and Kept as II
were, the highly charged clouds lowering
over the city. To heightcn this terrific
scene, in the midst of the blaze from The
heavens, the fire bells were rung. and our
fremen, with fire! FIRE falling from their
lips, were seen literally wading in all diree.
tons through the streets, to seek the cause
of alarm, for the purpose OF affording rellef.
And here let it be remarked, that ne men
could have done more, nohe could have
been more promptly at their posts. BY
this time, every one was prepared to hear,
what, in imagination, they had predicted;
but we are agreeably disappointed in ha-
wing so little 10 relate in the way OF Gala
nifty, when so much was expected.
How awful and majestically grand are
the thunders and fiery clouds Of heaven |!
How insignificant, compared with such a
scene, is all human greatness and yet such
is the goodness Of GOD, that he thus puri-
fees the air, that our frail bodies may not
perish. Thanks be to infinite Goodness
The following are the only instances Of
damage that we have yet heard of.
The schooner Thames, Capt. Winant,
lying in Coffee House-slip. and loaded for
Richmond, was struck-the electric fluid
took her foremost, descended to the hold,
and set the cargo below on fire but, from
the alacrity Of our fremen, the flames was
soon extinguished, though not until her
cargo was considerably damaged, princi-
pally by the water thrown into her Her
ground tier consisted of hay and hogsheads
ofspirits-tbe residue Of the cargo being
dry goods, glass, &c. Some boxes Of look
ing glass plates that were slowed near the
foremost, were broken to pieces by the
electric conclusion. L he foremost of the
vessel is splintered, and must be replaced.
Some of her crew in the iorecastle were
considerably stunned, and two Of them were
knocked down, but it is supposed they will
recover. One man had his trowsers par
TALLY torn from his legs, and he was unin-
jured! About 100 of glass panes were
broken in the stores opposite where the
Thames lies, and many persons in the
neighborhood were thrown from their seats.
The house of Mr.. Nicholas C. Everit,
corner of Anthony and Elm-streets, was
struck, and part Of the roof and cornice-
gutter ripped off but none Of the family
were any otherwise affected than severely
shocked.
The rope.walk Of Messrs. Barbarin, STAN
ton and Co. at Brooklyn, was also set on
fire by the lightning, and the workehouse
and about ten feet of the walk, burnt, with
some yarn, &c. About ten feet of an ad-
joining rope-walk was pulled down to pre-
vent the fame from reaching it.
1t is remarkable, that very different from
the usual state Of weather Immediately al
ter thunder gust, the wind sci in again
from the eastward, and rain, at intervals,
fell all tine afternoon, and in the evening it
blew gale from E. N. E.
The house of Samuel Swartout, ESQ. at
Hoboken, was also struck with lightning,
and one of the chimneys and part Of the
roof partially destroyed. The shock was
great, but no person injured. Mr.. S. who
at the time was on the causeway, was
struck on the shoulder, and other persons
in the neighborhood, experienced the et-
fects Of the lightning.
An attempt was made on Thursday night
10 rob the dwelling house of R. F. Miller.
esq. No, 1854, Broadway. II is probable
the villains secreted themselves in the
house during the day, as the family, On re-
firing to bed, secured all the doors, and in
the morning they found the back door was
open, through which the rogues escaped
They forced the door of store room on
the basement story, where they procured
a spermace.i candle, and having lit it at
the kitchen fire, proceeded to rummage the
house-but fortunately found but little
which they thought proper to take, An a
partment in which the family plate had
been formerly kept, was broke open, but
new place for keeping it having lately
been provided, the robbers did not fnc it
and for some reason, they did not take
either of three large silver walters which
lay exposed to their view upon the side
board. From the quantity Of the candle
consumed, it appears they continued their
ca,..L .L....L.,,t tho bouso for no rIu t,yn