The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-07-30
ELECTRICAL PHENQME.
NON. AT NEW BEDFORD, MASS.
The New Redford Mercury publishes'a Z

TONXT new BEDFORD, MASS.
The New Bedford Mercury publishes
communication from : gentleman oflthat
city giving an account oi q singular eleci
trical phenomenon which occurred at his
residence on the evening Of the 9th inst
He was seated in his library reading, when
his wife came in and seated herself in a
rocking chair at the other end Of the table
Finding the solar lamp little too far from
her, she drew the chair over the carpet to-
wards the table, partially raising herself in
the chair, but not entirely out OF il. The
instant the chair moved an explosion took
place. exceedingly sharp, and as loud as
a Chinese cracker. He was somewhat
alarmed by it, and the alarm was increas.
ed by an exclamation from his wife that
she was hurt in the hand The first
thought was that some one had thrown
cracker through the window, but the win.
dow was closed. Upon taking his eyes
| from the book, a luminous body, about the
size and nearly the shape Of the flame Of a
candle was seen floating in the air, and
moving towards the opposite side, Of the
room. Ithad nearly reached the partition
when first seen, and when it had reached
the wall it appeared to sink down behind
the sofa, where ii disappeared, The color
Of the body was q blueish white. il was
seen with great distinclness, 50 that its
shape and color were accurately deter
mined. The room was filled with q pun
gent odor, whose character conveyed the
impression that both woolen cloth and sui
phur were burning. II was the strongest
at the spot behind the sofa where the me-
teor expired. Upon removing the sofa,
two or three minutes after the explosion,
the smell was so strong as TO be highly OF.
fensive. It was powerful as that which
accompanies the ignition Of match, 1t
was thought that the carpet was on fire
The hand Of Mrs, C. was found 10 have
been burned near the knuckle ofthe fore
finger. The spot was about as large as a
dime, and for awhile was exceedingly
painful. 1t was much discolored and
SWOLLEN. 1t remains dark 2arple, and
painful to the touch. It was thought pos
sible that some explosive article or mate
rial might have been introduced into the
room. Every part Of the room was care
fully examined, but nothing was found to
give any plausibiity to such a supposition.
] When it was over, nothing was to be seen
but the dark spot upon the wounded hand.
The writer finds it difficult to disconnectth the
+ incident from the extraordinary, not Ito
us) unprecedented, tempest Of Thursday
night and Friday morning. He cannot
connect them by any chain Of scientific
J reasoning. but may be allowed to remark
that il would not be strange, after such a
| wonderful exhibition Of the potency and
. activity Of the electric forces, il we should
observe some unusual minor manifesto
, tions OF the same extraordinary power
HAS it not been mentioned that in certain
houses in New York the carpets become
/ at times, so charged with electricity thai
, they communicate shocks to persons pass
: ing over them! ae Nan
A SHIPsCANAL BETWEEN THE TWO
ma g: st9u OCEANS. 8i tc loji19fal
The following memorandum, says the
Journal Of Commerce, has been handed
us by respectable, citizen: Private letters
by the last New Grenada mail, inform us
the important question has been decided
of an exclusive right to construct a. ship
canal across the territory Of that enterpris
ing and enlightened Republic. consider
: able distance from Panama, to connect the
: waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific. A
company, comprising several Of our own
citizens, have obtained the privilege, which
,; good judges estimate at high value. The
details OF the bill. which has recently pass.
ed the Congress, are very interesting
showing the lberalty Of the Government
: and the intelligence and enterprising char.
acter Of the company. 1t is a TACT thai
canoes have sometimes crossed Oh the line
where the anticipated canal is TO be dug;
and nothing is known which appears like
an important obstacle in the way Of the
, work, OF unfavorable to its speedy compile.
, ton, its full success and permanent util-
: ity. ''i'' s';.-o.,. r.....,,, ia,a b,e0s a5f
, From information obtained by some Of
7 the friends OF this enterprise, il is clear
> that profitable investments may be made
for the Development Of some Of the yaln-
r able and abundant natural resources oi
. the immense and fertile regions of New
(. Grenada, hitherto but little known even to
} many Of the inhabitants themselves, and
little suspected BY our countrymen.
r hope to be able 70 give you further partic.
/, ulars soon." ...,,..t .l......a Z. +, .s III
GREAT CALL FOR Posr- OFFICE STAMPS
Seventeen hundred dollars worth Of post.
age stamps were sold during business
hours in Boston, in one day-this, too,
under the rule that no individual can pur.
chase more than three dollars worth at q
! time. The reduction ofpostage has, even
at this early period, given ample evidence
. that correspondence has been and will be
i materially increased. = q sYe.aa -i'7gA