Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-05

EXETER, Nansemnud County, Va
April 27th, 1882
Ncssrs. Shields &. yHshJurn, Editors ofhe Nor
folk B eacon.
Please insert the following awful eventih your
paper, and obl,ge friend.
JETnRo POWELL.
Yesterday, about o'clock, during the md.
day vacation Of nv school, one mile and bali
from this place, the children were suddenly dri-
ven 10 the house, to seek shelter from an ap-
preaching cloud; but alas the asylum they sought
could not shield them from the subtle fluid, with
which the cloud was surcharged.-At the mo-
ment they reached the house, there was so little
rain that the boys remained outside, the girls
were in the house with me. On hearing the thun'
der which was no, at that time alarming, they
laughingly asked me, where they must get? adj
monished them to be serious, and was relating to
them the unfortunate occurrence which had but
few days before, taken place in Chuckatuck,
4. (the death of a negro belonging to 1 H. Southa',
Esq. BY lightuing;) at that moment the element
above, burst with terrific crash, and the liquid
stream of fire descended upon the chimney OF the
house. For a moment after, all was still as
death! then followed the heart.rendlng shrIeks OF
! the PROSTATE, afrishted children. On recover
little injury. lony little pain III one foot which
prevented nv rising for several minutes,) my first
emotions were those of gratitude to God for spar
ing nv life. The frat object that presented it.
self. alter the dispel sion of the smoke, was one
of the little grIs lying on her face, the fireplace
apparently li(eless, another the tloor crying
for help. being unable 10 se;-three boys out
side the house were struck down and crying aloud
for aid the others fled Immediately. except one
who remained with me.
With the assistance Of negro man wis had Ia
ken refuge in the house, from the ram, which was
then falling in torrents, and the youth who remain
ed with me, the boys outside the house were ia
ken in, and all the aid in power afforded 10
them. But the most affecting part Of this nara
tive is yet to be told. An interesting son OF MIR.
Abraham Jones. IA near neighbor about 10 years
old, had Just returned from dinner, and was
standing IN the corner of the chimney when the
lightning struck it In the twinkllng Otan eye he
was snatched from time to eternlty!-The agony
of his father was beyond description. One of his
sons had fled, Immediately after the explosion of
the cloud, not knowing his brothers fate. The
father came in haste to seek the other but, alas he
fonnd him encircled in the icy arms OF death!
On examining the other children, 1t was ascer-
tanned that they were not seriously injured,as
was at first apprehended The scene was truly
awful and dstressing-l never before witnessed
SO awful a display of Omnip0tent power, or felt
so forcIbly the utter impotence Of man contrasted
with the On,nipote..ce of Jehovah Well might
the roy al psaImist say, Lord what is man, that
thou art mindful of him! and the son Of man, that
thou remembered him?
From The Philadelphia .4i'nericnn .4drerfise.
Ma PouLso 1T is with regret that see IN
an article in your paper OF this morning, on the
biography of Stephen Girard, an assertion in re-
lation 70 the late DR.. Staughton. which is entire
ly untrue, and without fouadation. Dr.. Staugh
ton never asked a favor of Mr.. Girard but once,
and that was for his signature to an application 10
recruiting officer, for the discharge OF young
man VINO had enlisted while IN state OF lntOxlca
ton, and who was the son OF friend. Mr.. Gil
rard signed the appeal. and the young man was
released. This statement was made by d..
Staughton on one occasion at least, before num-
Der Of gentlemen, wnen this same story about the
$500 was told him, which some person in cruel
sport with good mans fame, or in malice, had
got up with view to injure the character of a
learned, pious, and distinguished minister of the
gospel man whose refined feelings and polite
and amlable manners were to those who knew
him. a sufficient refutatOn of the silly story
Now that he is far BEYOND the reach of human
censure or applause. it is at the best but useless
To repeat scandals that can have no other effect
than to wound the feelings of affectonate friends,
or to excite a sheer against one who was gener-
Gus, hish-minded, and kind. in all the relations
of life, and who. as citizen of Philadelphia. was
re-eminent for the aacrity and zeal with which
he exerted himself in favor Of every noble and
philanthropic purpose.
1t was maxim, 81. De mortuis nil nisi bonum;"
as aChristian people. we may at least say, :. De
mortuis, NIL nisi yerum." II.
! MAY 1, 1882.
TO the Editors Of the National kpfeHgecer.
W.sHtNCToN Cry, Nav Cd 1852