The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-12-05
Remarkable EfsctefLightn;ng.

Atcn91| h"otc LUeCt " AtSfItIIs|tS'
Come of our readers have heard Of the circum-
stances narrated in the following commune
cation. We have often been inquired of on
the subject, and are glad we have SO minute
an account of it.
In Rutland, about o'clock in the morn
ing Of the eth inst. after heavy rain from the
n. E. and without any previous Indication of
a thunderstorm, an uncommonly brilliant and
vivid fash of lightning was observed through
the town, by those who were awake, succeed
ed instantly by tremendous explosion. The
thunder-bolt, after separating into two main
branches, passed down the front and rear
chmnies Of the dwelling-house of Rufus Put
nam, Esq. The branch which descended the
rear chimney, passed through two rooms, in
which all the family, except one, slept, and
were then in bed. Mr.. Putnam and wife
were in the chamber, two small children, and
the girl, who lived with them, in the room be-
low. These rooms are small, and the beds
stood within two feet of the chimney. The
fluid passed in almost every direction around
these rooms, bursting the windows and rending
III pieces boards and timbers. The chimney
was parted from top to bottom, and the rooms
almost demolished. portion Of the fluid
passed on the curtain-rod, over the bed of the
children, scorched the bed-curtain, and did
considerable injury to the wall against which
the bed stood; covering the bed with frag-
ments of boards, plaster and glass. 1t then
passed off in various directions from the house.
Indeed, such was the awful scene OF destruc-
ton in these rooms, that no one would have
supposed it possible that single individual,
Il how mil ~
or even have escaped death, without mirac-
ulous interposition of Heaven. Branches from
that which descended the rear chimney took a
southerly direction on the plate and sill Of the
back room and wood-house, rending the plate
in pieces, and uniting at the southeast corner.
Thence it passed small distance to a stye,
and killed two fatted hogs-thence to the barn,
which stands few feet southeast of this range
Of buildings; and after separating into two
branches, one OF which, taking direct course,
injured a chaise, and passed off through the
yard the other, making a right angle with
the above, passed across the barn-foor into
the stable, and killed horse-thence at al
most right angle into the Inter, and killed
one COW; and, leaving another unhurt, it pas
sed off nearly parallel with the other branch,
through the yard some rods, in southeastern
front chimney, divided at the garrett. Part
descended the chimney, bursting it, to the
kitchen; and after doing considerable injury
there, passed out in two places to the west
another part burst through the chimney, de-
molished the woodwork near it in two adjon-
ing chambers, tore up the floor, and passed
down into the lower rooms; and after doing
much injury to them, and to the ground tim
have of off orlU Il
northerly in various directions. Indeed, so
great were the masses of fluid which entered
the house, that there is scarcely space in or
about the buildings, where the effects OF the
lightning are not more or less visible. About
one hundred panes of glass and some window
sashes were entirely demolished. Some of the
furniture in the house was destroyed. The
clock, which stood in the kitchen, was thrown
down, and the wire on which the pendulum
was suspended was melted. The chinmies
were so much injured that it became necessary
to take them down.
When this house was visited by the people
in the morning, it exhibited a scene of destruc-
ton, which excited in every beholder min
gled feeling of sympathy and gratitude; for
amidst these ruins and singular Judgment of
Heaven, the family have reason to sing of mer-
CIV, that they have escaped unhUrt, if not UNI
affected, by the shock. Though they slept on
non-conductors, il seems as if nothing but the
immediate power Of God could have protected
them from receiving some injury from the
thousand pieces of boards, timbers, and glass,
which flew in almost every direction around
them.-We have here at one view, a most
striking evidence of the power and beneyo-
lence ot Jehovah.
Rutland, Nor. %, 1891.
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