Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-08-06
From the Pennsylvania Inquirer
A STORM AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE
4 THRILLING SKETCH.

We have seldom read any thing more graphic and
thrilling than the following letter, from distinguished
this city. Although dashed oil with the utmost rapidty
and intended mere for the eye OF affection, it is minute
and glowing in eminent degree. The occurrences
rated are full OF interest," and mark in the most impressive
manner the wondrous ways OF Providence The letter,
repeat was not intended for publications and, although its
gifted author may feel surprise well as regret at seeing
1t IN PRINT yet trust he will overlook any apparent in
dellcacy as the sketch embodes not only incidents ola
| ments and saluary moral.
ONLY, f. s., VA, July l6, ls49.
MY DEAR WIFE We are without hesitation OF belief,
the objects OF Gods tender mercies You must not em
BILE except with love and alteration Of Providence, when
tell you OF the incidents Of the last two days, which have
nearly overwhelmed me with calamity, and at the same
instant grateful surprise at the wonderful escapes OF
myself and our dear children Saturday last Uhiss Mon
day night when begin to breathe free very hot
day-a burning, blisterng heat, which in to see
that my field hands finished their harvesting and stacking
| my grain properly and in time for Sabbath They did
their work quickly and we'll, and finished by the middle Of
| the dayhe weather fair and glowing with sunlight and
eeling good health and spirits, told the they
might have the hall OF the day, and any of them who
chose might go along with me to flsl IN the bay They
Were very cheerful and grateful and was rather bent
finding cool breeze down the creek than expecting much
sport with my line Two Of them, old Jesse Darkey's
husband and George said they would like to go with me-
and gave Professionalism my son Henry and nephew,
little Henry, to go along The two large boats were both
in the yard under the oaks, awaiting repairs and pain
ting Mr.. Bull gone to assist his brother in harvest
ing and Johns Jim at his carpenters work on your
arbor under the oaks By the merest accident passed
his bench, thought ofs claim to little rest from labor
too, asked him if he would like to 60 with me, and he
gladly consentng, ordered himto prepare the only
noe alloatthe one call the old Constitution the OF
| third SIZE rae--and to get his line.
With every thing ready, and light westwardly breeze,
set sail for the mouth OF the Ocrancook We had TO
beat all away down, and the wind so light that two
reached anchorage for isng and put out line about
half mile from the bar OF the creek, and midway from
side to side say mile from land Scarcely had we baed
our hooks, when noticed cloud in the In ten
minutes a Mr. kilman in small sharp near by,
with small child on board, said to me that was in a
staunch boat well manned but he was afraid to risk the
threatening in his craft and he put off for the shore
In speaking distance he hailed, and exclaimed, Look
there" turned to the westward, and saw what had
often wished to and wish to agana water
spout One, another third two hundred feet
high in quick succession, five miles distant, rapidly
whrng moment, and then dashing off like race horses
to the southwark, at right angles to the wind, still from
the west his raised my apprehension and ordered the
anchor raised and lines wound up immedatey The tore
mast had been left standing the sail unflred, and
started In fifty yards the wind overlook We dared
not steer tor the nearest land Our course was inevitably
before the blast eastward The nearest shore about
the helm. He proved calm and brave, and steady The
sail could not be taken the boat could not stand under
it we were all OF smother the children were unconscious
otdanger and Jesse and George were dumfounded The
crisis fell on Jim and me. The water was raised by the
wind horizontally and driven to sting like shot The
boat UNDER spoutng water from the gunwae one
side fother side God Mould haze 1t. Such
actually the pressure that would not all come inside
she would have filled Immediately The sheet rope broke,
|
me- and ran forward to unstep the mast This he could
not do and took all my strength to keep the boat from
broachng to- Fortunately we reached the Shore sprang
out and the mast and sail with u.s. fifteen twenty
feet-wet, but saeto feel about the strongest wind then
| that ever el nmy life
We went up to the house OF Mr.. Taylor, and dried
ourselves until the storm subsidized, when we took gal
liant little craft again spread both sails for home and got
Just past Mr. divers when saw my Jim in limping
gate along shore. Steered for him. and asked him what
was the matter? TWAS his evening to go and his
wife and he was gone, thought, before saw him He
u0 he doing He and bewde
ed but shortly said incoherently, "Sr spying after
you am struck, your house is torn to pieces never ex
out, and hurried home. Here was displayed the power
and the providence of God You had been from the
danger He had sent from real to apparent danger to
be safe he had saOed poor children and SERVANTS
wrapped and encircled all round By the lightning
aorath. Oh! how, past all understanding are Gods
ways towards the children ofmen How unworthy am
to be His meanes creature Annie was standing at your
dressing table in chamber, Richard and Meme in
the nursery room-Richard the floor, Meme in her lit
tie chair between Annie and her Jim the
garnet window. Charlotte (the cook in the cook
ROOM The fluid passed down the rod leaving the house
untouched until il came TO the iron bolt which held it to
the plate OF the second story, middle plate between the
OF the house and basement There it entered the
plate and weather boarding, shiverng them to pieces
entered the nursery room at the edge OF the chimney,
scorched the floor top, and bursted up from below
through hole, which splmtered in few inches from
Nenes cairevidenty attracted to the little iron
passed of at the southwest foot OF again into the plate
above the floor the south side Of the house the
plate straight over the portco the whole length OF the
south side OF the house. and thence at the southeast
ner, bounded OFT descending the corner where the CO.
lonade joins the kitchen, melting the heads Of nails and
scorchng and rendng as Jim was badly shocked
scorched and bsered in the left oot-not sign Of other
etfectin the room where he was. Meme shocked
slightly and was Annie-not thing broken in the
mouse except one vessel and sptbox in the office
OF te pasenen-he very varnsh unnufed your dIes,
sing table, where Annie and the ee OF which touched
the aGk Of the lightning hanked God my
look after the brick work and house frame, to was
in danger OF topping.
Night coming fast and for for carpenters i'm
mediately With the aid of Mr. Oliver and Iohnnys Jim
was assured of safety for the tme buta cloud still
in the West and the two large chambers and the two par
lor rooms were wrecks moved the children down into
my office, and had my bed put into the breakfast
feared fire would burst out somewhere in the house du
ring the night and walking sentry Tor hours the
two torn sides OF the house, when the servant called
the last my aechonate dog Boxer AS the children
were lying down their lodges in the office they snelt
something burnt. They searched for the iremoved the
sotathe three divided sofa in the south corner and
there my poor dog lay stiff dead and scorched from under
his left eye broad your fingers between his fore
legs down his left side his TAIL and swollen very large
God had stricken my dog and spared my children! We
traced the fluid past where he lay, along the washboard
behind OF shelves for my books the South side
and there lost but where could youmagne we found it
tohave escaped! Full seventytive feet through the din
ing roomthe colorado, which Charlotte described
sheet OF reout at the brick step from the cook kitchen
door to the well-knockng away halt OF brick and
Gaping through aperture like bullet hole. Old Char
otte was shocked in her hands and arms Annie COM
planned OF her head Meme of her breast; Jim was not
himself until the next morning Richard kept telling me
that went between his legs. He, like he always is was
right. Behold when we come undress him for bed his
pantaloons badly scorched all in 'front.' and broad
your three fingers below the left knee Annie and he be-
hayed exceedingly WELL like grown people of good sense
and nerve He gave me the most intelligent account Of
every thing, taking by the hand and making heed
as wisdom and tortude would make older in years.
Meme was, and STILL like poor little bird which has
flown against the window in the storm. Annie was wo-
man and behaved liked one; did more than could have
been expected OF herunl came, and finding then bo
som to throw their burden OF trouble upon she gave way
to tears and trembling. Poor thngs-they happy
We found the house not so badly injured supposed
|
| RANGE OF THE, THERMOMETER, at J. w.
i LII &. "a % PoaL ctora