The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-05-07
FATAL THUNDER STORM.
SurHERLAEE, River ST Clair r


mos, awful ana terrific thunder storms remem-
beret bysny one in this section Of the province
soon after daylight the inhabitants were made
acquainted with the following melancholy and
he.rt'rendiug accidents:-Mr Henry Agar, resi-
dihg on the river bank, about a mile above this
place. who with Others had been out all night
doing duty MS volunteers, about daylight return
ed to home with the intention of tukiug II little
rest. On his approach 10 the house he dscov-
cred the ridge boards somewhat out of ORDER
and on approaching still nearer he discovered
fragments of wood, broken glass, &c, which
| impressed his mind that the huese must have
been Injured by the stCrm-he opened! the door,
when he found one Of his little daughters, 6
years old, and another years, taking care of the
| infant months, all crying and sitting on the
foot OF the bed. The first words uttered by tho
elder girl Vere-"Oll father, the house has been
on hre ana mamma is SO sound asleeping we
cannot wake her. ,
lie tremblngly approached the bed, and there
discovered his kind and affectionate partner
whom bur IA few hours before, he had left in good
healtl. and spirit, nova cold and lifeess corpse.
Some of the neighbors were Immediately called
IN 10 assist in the requisite and painfnl duties
tendant TO this melancholy affliction-and it was
soon after discovered that the fatal messenger
had entered the gable end OF the house by it,
way between the logs, close 10 the bed on which
unfortunate Mrs Agar, with the three children,
were lying-two ut the foot and the infant in
struck her on the head, as parlof:he hair on the
forehead appeared as if it had been collected to-
gcher and burned with pair of curling tongs
the upper part ofthc breast appeared us if
had been struck with great violence by some
hard substance, leaving mark resembling
II stnr, and all that part of the body which was
in contact with the bed, even down to the feet
was much Observation-Disclosures resembling purple
Than black.
The eldest child said that her mammal cap
had taken fire, and most fortunately she had
the presence of mind to extinguisb (which in
one so young is most wonderiu--no doubt il
was the means of preserving the house and all
from being burned-it appears the cap had
been forced from the her head by the fatal stroke
as it had been lying on the blanket covering
the hreast-und was scorchcd nearly TO cin-
der
The child also states, that when the storm
was raging with great violence, she asked I,er
uammy if she was afraid, aud she replied NO
my dear. the great God will take care of us all,
but che never spoke again. She also added
when the infant WIS crying she endeavored To
wake her mamma, and when she could rot do
so she took the infant away, and she and her
sister endeavored 10 keep ii quict--and had been
Il long Tune SO engaged, as it was quito dark
when she first took the child away.
Ii nay be here observed, that the infants haIr, |
eyebrows and lids were good deal scorchcd 81 |
discoIoreti, as well as the cheek in slight de-
gree--a small looking glass hanging near the
foot of the bed was shivered To pieces-every
pane was broken in the upper window, and
forced outward,-a watch hanging near the look.
ing glass had evidently narrow escape from he.
ing ,lestroyed,-as tho steel chain was much dis.
colored, as il it had been in fire.
Ii is worthy TO remark, that this great afliction
mghtfhnve been, and was near proving still
more unfortunate, as Mr. A. had been urged by
hose he was keeping watch with TO go home.
rs it WAS likely his wife and little ones would
BE much alarmed-but from some unknown
,ause he was prevented or declining doing SO.
Had he gone hOme,i is almost certain the whole
amily might have met with the same meIan-
holy fate, rs the betistead in which the children
commonly slept when he was ut home in the
ame room, entirely desroyed-one of the
iead posts and all the roof of the bedstead hav-
ny come in contact with the fearful elements,
md resenibed what usually termed shivcrs,
uch us are often left on stump when the tree
'as been nearly cut through and fallen, and had
hr A. been in The place where the infant was
INJURED, it it likely he would have fatally en-
ountered the same, -u. "i.. .t.
1t may be mentioned that n small staff or pole
ha, was placed against the fence near the river
N the top OF which which was placed u piece
If sngie to serve as a yane, and which had
'een fixed on with nail, had also been struck $
rs the top OF the pole was. split and the nail
zone; the pole being of IRON wood the progress
# the electric fluid could be traced all down the
regular grain, about half inch deep, and
men riti aioHS tne renee, winch Terminated at
he house, about 30 feet distance SO thar it is
videut it must have been struck in more than
lie place.
A large iron wood tree about 800 feet distant,
vas also srcck and split, and the branches scat a
cred about The writer has been informed, that, /
his fatal spot has for years bee II ncted as having
everal times been exposed to the same vista =
ion, though never before as to cause the loss
f l'te Aud exactly opposite OF the American
Idle OF the river, the same remark applies--and :
y many il is considered, as both consists of ri
ing ground, that it is Likely some metallic sub
lances are the cause of this attraction-I Toronto j
Patriot.
Baptist ANNIVERSARIES. The American and
'orelgn Bible Society, held its second Anniver- (
try yesterday morning in the LIST Baptist Church.
he President the Rev Mr. Cone Of N. York, o
elivered am eloquent address, on taking The y
hair. The heasurer's report was then read, i
moving an aggregate of receipts and balance OF :
.,IC ~ Ao-