Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-05-17
FrOm The Toronto, y. c., Patriot.
Fatal. THUNDER STORM

awful and terrific thunder storms, remem.
bered by any one in this section ofthe prov
incc.
Soon after day light the inhabitants were
made acquainted with the following melan.
choly and heart rcnding accidents. Mr.
Henry Agar, residing on the river bank,
about a mile above this place, who with 9TH
ers, had been out all night, doing duty as
volunteers, about day light returned to his
home with the intention of taking little
rest. On his near approach 10 the house he
discovered 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
house must have been injured by the storm
he opened tbs door, when he found one OF
his little daughters, six years old, and anoth.
er three wears, taking care OF the infant OF
nine months, all crying and sitting on the
foot ofthe bed. The first words uttered by
the elder Girl we're" oh father, the house
has been on FIRE, and mamma is so sound
sleeping we cannot wake her."
He trcmblingly approached the bed, and
there discovered his kind and ahectionate
partner, whom but few hours before he had
left in good health and spirits, now cold
were Immediately called in TO assist in the
requisite and painful duties attendant on this
melancholy afliction-and it was soon after
discovered that the fatal messenger had en-
tered at the gable end of the house-by fore
ing its way between the logs, close 10 the
bed on which the unfortunate Mrs. Agar,
with the three children was lying-two at
the foot, and the infant in her bosom; 1t is
supposed that the fatal shock struck her on
the head, as part Of the hair on her forehead
appeared as If il had been collected together
and burned with q pair ofcurling tongs--.the
upper part ofthe breast appeared as ii 1t had
been struck with great violence by some hard
substance leaving mark resembling star;
and all that part ofthe body which was in
contact with the bed, even down TO the feet,
was much discolored-rat resembling
puaple than black.
The eldest child said that her mammals
cap bad been on fire and most fortunately
she hal the presence Of mind 10 extingulSh
(which in one 50 young is most wonder
ful--no doubt il was the means OF preserving
the house and all from being burned--it APP
pears the cup had been forced from her head
by the fatal stroke, as it had been lying on
the blanket covering the breast and was
scorching nearly TO a cinder.
The child also states, that when the storm
was raging with great violence. she asked
her mamma il sae was afraid, aud she repli.
ed, mo, nv dear, the great God will take
care of us all" but she never spoke again
She also added, when the infant was crying,
she eudeavoreJ TO wake her mamma, and
when she could cot do so, she took the in
FAINT away, and she and her sister endeavor-
ed 10 keep it quet-.and had been long
while so engaged as it was quite dark when
she first took the child away
Ii may be here Observed that The infants
hair, eyebrows and lids were a good deal
scorehed and discolored, as well as the
cheeks in slight degree-a small looking
glass hanging near The head OF the bed was
shivered TO pieces--every pane was broken
in the upper window, and forced outward
a watch hanging near the looking glass had
evidently narrow escape from being des-
troyed, as the steel chain was much discol-
ored, as if it had been in fire.
1t is worthy of remark that this great az
Fiction might have been, and was near prov
ing still more unfortunate. as Mr. A. had
been urged by those he was keeping watch
with TO go home, as it was likely his wife
and little ones would be much alarmed
but for some unknown cause he was proven
ted, or declined doing so. Had he gone
home, it is almost certain the whole family
might have met with the same melancholy
fate--as the bedstead in which the children
commonly slept when he was at home, in
the same room was entirely destroyed-one
ofihe head posts and all the roof of the bed
stead having come in contact with the fear
full element, and resembled what are usually
termed shivers, such rs are often left on a
stump when the tree has been nearly Gu;
through and fallen and had Mr. A. been in
the place where the infant was injured, it is
likely he would have fatally ENCOUNTERED the
same. It may be mentioned that small
staff or pole ina, was placed against the
fence near the river on the top of which was
placed piece Of shingleto serve as a vane,
and which had been fixed on with a nail,
had also been struck, as the top of the pole
was split, and the nail gone the pole being
of iron-wood, the progress ofthe electric flu
id could be traced all down the irregular
grain. about in half an inch deep. and then
ran along the fence which terminated al the
house, about 80 feet distance, so that it is
evident it must have been struck in more
than one place.
A large iron wood tree, about 800 feet
distant was also struck and split, and the
braches scattered about. The writer has
been informed, that this fatal spot has for
years been remarked as having several times
been subjected to the same awful visitation,
though never before so as 10 cause the loss