Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-08-17
TREMENDOUS STORM

I1EMEND OCS STORM
+ TAaRY Town, n Y. Aug. 10y
terday morning this village and its yic;p
iy were visited With one OF The most I v;4
lent storms, during its continuance. rbiT
bias been witnessed here for many vean
About half an hour after sun rise The Tan
pan sea, to an observer from the sbo,.
presented spectacle of the mos, terriS,
sublimity. The whole souhw esterD arcs
for at least go degrees, exhibited d.
black cloud, which filled the Spectacle.
with the most appalling sensations.
bout quarter before six il began to 6o.,
the wind for eight or len minutes blow;s.
an Irresistible hurricane. The elecl;S
fluid was discharged upon several pI,r.e.
at distance from each other, with incos me-
ceivsbls rapidity. About two and b.,,
miles south of the village, il struck dwsI'
ling house, and while Ibe family esc,nst
uniniured, it sbivered cunbrous articles ~
furniture 10 pieces, and tore chair, aoi
lighter articles into mere bilets of wo"S'
its fury was finally expended upon IN.
stone wall in the cellar, through which !,
made a complete aperture Ia anO,Lss
house not i'r distant, young Isdv w.
struck by The lightning, and for a loDr
lime continued in complies paralys'.
she is however recovering Near The yh.,t
al larry Towu, within 2 or 8 mlDuls. =.
the former shocks; the lightning passed Nv
a lumber house and completely slrlona3
off one OF the gable ends, but with no r irr.
ther injury. Taking a course east and
north. east, TWO or three minutes behrs CIV
O'clock; The electric discharge burst mann
the barn OF George Comb, ESQ. filled WIKI
rye, flsx andlhsy, and within five mipuss
the whole building and i,s contents w,ts
in solid colume Of FIRE. The flashes oi
lightning and The peals of thunder we're ."
terrifying, tha! gentleman about bali,
mile distant, who saw the fire conuuo.
cate to The barn, was obliged to return
into biz house; and, although not absent
moe than minute when he opened hi,
door The fire from the roof of the barn Wac
distinctly visible. AT this period the rain
descended in almost compact sheet. and
although the persons who ran 10 DR.
Combs assistance, 10 save bis dwelling
house, ter the safety Of which there wa,
great fesI, were dreDched in halt minute
10 the SKIN, he water only seemed 10 add
energy 10 the fire; aud Within 20 miuulss
some burning brands and pile of gnied
ashes only remained Of nearly tue whole
OF Mr.. Combs harvest. Nearly al tbe
same moment. another current vi The stora
passed up Sleepy Hollow, and struck The
habItalion OF Lewis earle, and injured.
young ia: but not, il is hoped beyond
recovery No tact is more completely il.
Illustrative of the benefit attached 10 The
iron conductors, than circumstance which
occurred al this house. About hundred
yards from Mr.. Carries residence is hcu
and saw mill, in which Is a wheel connect,
ed with the dairy TO cburn butter; along
the wood work winch moved The churu
was a rod OF wire, through which Nr
Csrle's dwelling Was NO doubt saved from
utter destruction, tor the electric fluid al.
Ter It had FIRST struck the house, attracted
by this rod, ran entirely along ii, until il
was lost ~ The vacuum al the end OF tie
wire, and lis power diminished BY the lVg
rent OF rain to which it was exposed.
A gentleman who sat and watched The
storm, aud close by whose habitatioS, al
the same time, several large irpit trees
were entirely rooted up, remarked, thai
for 10 or IL minutes, at the period when
the events already related happened, dq.
ring the last SO years. be did not recoecl
either such food of wafer, fury of wiul,
yiyidness Of lightning, or roaring Ct lhUn.
81 hni ~ nj hnr
Some idea may be formed oil The density
ei The atmosphere, from The fact, thai al
an hour after sunrise, for few minutes,
the lIghI was little more brilliant lbaOa
clear mornings grey dawn, except as lie
obscure profound was Illuminated for
moment by corru;cations equally splendid
and fearful. [.4asricah