Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1841-07-15

Free ne Wefcsster ~ sssarhu-.tt,,s pr. J,l-s
yU'on6erfsss Bsea1e.
n more Eemarkable escape from death
BY lightning than that Ne COW place on
record, psfhaps never occurred in this
eo7niTy. On The aiternoon Of the 30.h
uit., toe ehildren from our several schools.
70 The number Of upwards Of four hun.
ored. we're assembled 81 The veslry Of tha
Baptist meeting house. preparatory 10
pie-nie which they we're 10 attend on The
ID Jolly. About clock q small elc0d
came up. from which heavy clan Of
,nueder proceeded. spPareouy very assr
By "a consequences Of which, aud other
indieaiicus Of . shower. they we're dis.
tnissed. Ia thA hoPs THAI they would have
time 10 reach their homes before Il should
rain. u 10 esiins.ed, however. shats not
more than oeihird Of hem bad left the
room. when the bailding Vas struck by q
heavy discharge Of The electric f1id,
which spent most Of lie force 10 The lower
part OF The house. particularly 10 The ves.
try where the children were assembled.-
The scene which ensned may be i'm aRin-
ed but cannot be described. or the $50
children Vho- we're In tho room, a eonsi-
deroble portion were struck Instantly 20
the floor. Fifteen CT twenty, while Gro d /.
ing TO The door. were laid PROSTATE in q
heap. piled one upon another. Some were
stunned. and others appear 10 have been
deprived, for q time, Of their reason.
Some dozen or fifteen Of them were more
or less injafed, but not one Of them dan
gerously! "A daughter Of the publisher
Of this paper. about nine years old, was
bhsiered on her right wrist, on her left
arm, a5d on the bottom Of her feet. Her
shoes were torn from Der feet, The upper
leather rent 10 lallers. and hole about ~
large Is would be made by good sized
buckshoi was pierced by the electric Auid
through the sole OF each. WheL brought
homo her feet were much swollen and
looked red and ihHAmed, AZ IL they had
been dipped ia water not quite hot enoush
10 raise blister. except on the soles Ii.
rectiy over " here the holes we're burnt in
the bolton Of the shoes, where bIisleru
were raised. She could not stand, and
eomPlaioed Of nnmSness from her knees
downward. except ia her feet, which were
exceedingly sore 20 the touch. Bot she
recovered go as 10 be about the house an.
parcniiy ~ well IS usual. the next morn
Ine, except . slight lameuess from TIE
burn 90 o0e Of her feet. A child Of lie vii
Thsyer had her shoes torn from her feet
ID similar manner Other children we're
burnt on different parts Of their bodies.-
An Of them, we believe, were in good
degree recovered the next morning, ex
eept daughter Of Peter Slater, who wal
more injured then the rest, but not dan
geFously 90.
The damage by the lightning was ca
inR 10 the nnScienii6c and defective man.
ne: 10 which the conductor was fitted. Ia
putting II mp. 4 bole Was drilled into l
rock somG three OF four feet deep. ipiS
which the lower end was inserted ans
there left. instead Of being carried -sC
where Il could commitments with some
conducting substance. u might jasl abou
as'well have been cut OF al the surface Of
the earth. As might have been expected
the huid, unable 20 escape at the lowei
end, expl oded, and entered the side O
The house about midway from the saysl
20 the ground, and apparently al some
enterprises lower dosn. IL tore OF tbS
eiapboaFds and covering for some extern
about the place where 1t 6rst entered. -
Thence IL seems 10 have spread itself 10
all directions through the lower part Of The
house. TimbeSs we're shivered. aud the
marks OF the hnid are 10 be traced with
more or less disiiaetnsss over q eoutider
able portion Of the vesiry AooE The ehi.
dren which were most injured, were a
che end Of the room next 10 the conduc.
'ot. some Of them Standing directly undeI
an open window, where, Il 10 believed, 4
pcriisn Of the h0id entered. The door Il
a the other end Of The room.
The cloud from which this shoek pro
seeded war a. we have before said. nall
but little rain fell iron IL At ell. and, 81 the
same time the house was struck. We be
Have the sun shone bright. The discharge
Of 6aid appeared 10 Be q very heavy ose,
and the escape may Justly be considered
most remarkable. The occasion will Ion
be memorable 10 those who were present.
and ne trust viIi be remembered with de.
rout thankfulnsss ior4hs deliVeranee, rot
Dolly By ihem, but By their friends.