Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-08-04
MORNING HERALD
THE WEATHER YESTERDAY.

Tremendous storm OF Thunder aad Light
ming for Ten Hours. Loss of Life.
The great feature in this part Of the world yester.
day, was the weather For 10 hours we had the
most terrible storm of thunder, lightning and ram
that ever was seen in New York within the memory
of the oldest nhasitant
The whole of Saturday and Sunday the weather
was most ofpressivey hot and sultry The ther-
nometer stood at 81 in the shade, in the day time;
and at 50 the whole night long Ii was dreadful IN
the extreme. Every one was complaining of lassi-
tude, debility and sickness, the whole OF yesterday
morning. Yellow fever stared us in the face and
cholera looked round every with CHASTITY
eountenance.
A little before Yesterday, and when the
weather had become 5 sultry and close that man
stout persons actually gasped for breath hea
w clouds from all quarters THE horizon Will
fearful raridity, and meeting Immediately over the
city, thunder and lightning burst forth with ncon-
ceivable noise and briiaacy. Many persons were
stunned for several minutes; some were killed on
the spot, and many horses ran away with carriages
Of all kinds, and did much mischief
The lightning struck some part of St Pasfs
Church (the steeple is believed) and was conduc
ted off by the lightning rod. 1t tore up the ground
in the grave yard. struck down person on the side
walk, and scattered the dirt in large quantities
across Broadway TO the pavement in front OF the
Chemical Bank. The whole space under the porfi'
co of ST. Paul's was filled with what seemed Goals OF
living fire; the pieces of dirt having luminous APP
pearance; and they rolled on the awning OF
Finchleys ba; store, they seemed like the red hot
cinders falling from single roof on fire. The whole
aspect of the scene for the time being awful in
the extreme
The rain immed iatey fell in tremendous torrents.
The horses in several of the cabs, carts, wagons and
omnbusses in Broadway and Chatham street, were
so startled by the terrible noise of the crashing
thunder clouds, that they off in all directions
with the vehicles to which they were attached and
did much mischief.
The scene in Broadway at one time actually
ludicrous, although to seine it appeared terrible.
Horses and carriages of all kinds, going with rail-
road speed in all directions, met the Park, and
knocking one another down, all got damned to-
gether. highly respectable hairdresser, near st.
Pauls. was curling the hair Of gentleman at the
time the lightning struck the church. He
blinded and stunned for moment, and twisted the
curlsg tongs tight and close to the skin Of the
Gus omer, that the latter simultaneously seeing the
fash hearing the crash, and feeling the pain OF the
twist in his hair and the heat Of the irons on his
skin, cried out in agony, "Ged help mel am
struck ~
the Lightning, but could not learn the particulars
The United States cutter, Rush, at anchor off the
Battery, was struck by the lightning and the main
mast was shvered. The schooner Fairfield, lying at
Peck Slip, also struck at the same time; Of
the masts was torn 10 shreds, and the Captain
vervmuch hurt last ght late he had recovered
sloop close by also was struck, and her mainmast
was shivered.
On the heights OF Brooklyn several trees were
struck and torn to pieces The liberty pole in the
second ward OF Brooklyn also broken to pieces,
and il is feared will fall. The authorities put ropes
across the streets 10 prevent transit and accidents
A man and boy were also killed by the electric
fluid, in Sands street These were all the accidents
we heard Of in Brooklyn. Near Joness Secoad
Ward Hotel, in the engraving establishment OF Du-
gan and Climber, the lightning struck, and threw
both these gentlemen (who were at work upon steel
pates the floor; but they recovered IN the course
Of an hour. A young lady, in house in Nassau
street, near Ann, struck senseless, as she was
endeavoring TO shut down a window, but recovered
in about three hours. A man at work in upper
room of the Anti-slavery Office in Clinton Hall,
struck by the electric fluid and thrown ints fits,
and fears we're entertained for his life. A person
was struck down in the Bowery, and carried home
senseless. One Of the compositors in this Office,
working close to the window in the upper room,
was so stunned that he did recover himself for
some time after.
We also learn that church near 18th street and
the Bowery, was struck and slightly injured. The
Bank the State Of New York, close 20 the Custom
House in Wall street, was also struck, and Injured
slightly.
There were such rapid succession Of terrible
discharges Of thunder and lightning for one hour
that il is feared very much more damage has been
done. There wa. a slight cessation about two
o'clock, and then the storm recommended with
doubled fury, and continued with slight intermis-
sions the whole Of the afternoon and evening. And
at the time we are writing this article nine o'clock
at night, the Of thuHder and lightning is still
raging, and the rain is descending in torrents.
We are fearful that mail papers will bring
intelligence Of frightful calamites having
.curred in many parts Of the country.
Hon. LEVI BEARDsLEY.-The wings are some
what chopfaen. and the locofocos in ecstacies,
because Mr.. Beardsley has written a letter to some
small potatoe democrat, who don't know enough to
keep still, in which he denies having made whig
speech al Tippecanoe meeting. Both parties had
better drop this matter where il is. Tnere is no
thing to be gained BY agitating il further. II was
characteristically sneaking and mean in the wing
papers 20 refer 10 IL IN the first place and the blus
terinx derial Of the locofoeos was in their usual
style Of impudenee and Ignorance. The facts