The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-09

we receive accounts of the injury and destruc-
ton Of property, and, in some instances, of the
loss of life by the late thunder storms. Some
Of the particulars, as cleaned from the papers
are annexed.
In Salem, on Saturday, the 2Sth ult, the
lightning struck in several places. One dis
charge shivered the royal mast of the ship Man
DARN, and forced the splinters the distance of
twenty or thirty rods. Four men in the tore
castle were Frustrated by the shook but not Sc
riously injured-The house of Capt. Thomas
Francis was struck, and sustained great dam
age. Seven or eight persons were in the rooms,
but they all providentially escaped injury.
The house of Benz amin Crownishield, Esq,
in Danvers, which is protected by three con-
ductors, was struck, the fluid descending by the
chimney, No serious damage sustined which
may be attributed to the taking of of great
part of the fluid by the conductors.
In New York, on Saturday the 9th ult, the
ship Ajax was struck the lightning rod at the
main sky sail mast head, conducted the fluid to
chain attached thereto, which, being very
small, was parted link from linE. The fluid
then passed to the main top gallant mast, shiv-
cred the main top mast, main top sail yard,
main yard, and main mast then passed through
the bulwark on the larboard side, making hole
about an inch in diameter. The schooner Me-
ridian, Of Boston, mad her mali top mast
entirely cut off, main mast shiveed so as to
render it entirely useless several # her beams
uuch injured. 1t is remarkable that although
four persons were in the cabin within a few feet
of the mast, not one received the EAST injury
At the Rose Hill Mansion House mar the city,
where there were two conductors tt the house,
there were three explosions Of the dectric fluid
a In ba A. 4. d.,
and the crash were instantaneous, and at each
there was a crack of the house as th5agh a stick
OF timber had been broken SevraI persons
were IN sitting room together, aid on one of
these remarkable explosions, every person was
shocked as though electrified by powerful bat
terry The appearance of the lightning was
likewise remarkable. In one instan0e the clouds
seemed to crack open, and present column of
flame distinctly defined, resting apparently upon
the earth, at short distance, and reaching high
up to the centre arch of heaven. The appar-
ent diameter of this fiery pyramid, vas eighteen
inches or two feet A house in he city was
struck, the chimney thrown down, .he shingles
torn up, DC. A child was knocked down and
stunned considerably, but recovered. On Mon
day lamp in Harrison street was struck lifted
out of its frame, and dashed into atoms on the
pavement. The conductor of the North Church,
In William corner of Fulton street, was also
struck. The electric fluid, as it descended
broke the rod and lighted upon The iron railing,
which encloses the building, along the whole
extent of which it played wildly and brilliantly
tor an instant, and then discharged itself in the
earth. Much confusion was created bv the
shock, in the families in the neighborhood. and
their houses were filled with a thick SULPHUR
Gus vapor. Some persons were partially stun.
ned, and one or two knocked down.
AT Albany, on Saturday, two houses were
struck, at different times, but without material
damage.
In Philadelphia, on Sunday, in severe thun-
DER squat, house was struck, though not
much Injured.
On Saturday, in the Meeting House NJ New
market, IN. Fl } the wife of Daniel Gerr;sh n,a 6
was struck down. In Strafford, four oven and
COW were killed.
In Northampton, on Friday morn;nr the
house of Mr.. Ansel Wright was struck. The
huld separated-the greater part followed The
lightning rod, where the stream was 60 mower.
full that it melted two of the silver points The
other part descended by the chimney into one
OF the rooms, took all the gliding from a picture
frame, and tore some of the plasterinr from the
walls. A' INV
In Westfeld, the barn of Mr.. VIM TnoersolI
containing several cattle and about ter, TONS ~
hay, was struck on Sunday night. and vorv
much inlnred man who lodged in the born
that night, lay within ten feet ofihe snot u,baro
the electric fluid entered the ground hut was
not materially injured. The cattle aiso nrovi.
dentlally escaped unhurt.