Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-21

/ WONDERFUL ELECTRIC MANIFESTATIONS.
The New Bedford Mercury gives the following very
valuable communication from highly respectable
gentleman of that city one good scientific attachments,
and not easily 10 be deceived 1t further adds: 1--WE
call TO mind at this time several instances OF similar
phenomena though not like this one in all its details
We well remember which occurred 10 country
town OF Massachusetts OF ball ofelectric fire which
rushed througha long entry the doors at each end be
ing open though there storm at the time raging
We believe there is an instance, which celebrated
in English literature of the last century, of two persons
struck by lightning in broad sunlight while in field
haying'
On Saturday evening, July 5th, about o'clock, the
writer OF this sitting in his library reading He
seated table placed against CRATE and beneath
mantel the south side OF The room. He was near
the end of the table, which brought him near window
TO the southeast corner oil the room.
His wife in and seated herself in an arm chair
with rockers near the other end OF the table. Finding
herself little far from the lamp, Ia soar0 she took
hold of the arms of the chair, and without raising it
from the floor moved it towards the table. She did
get OF the chair but simply raised herself SO to
permit the chair to be drawn the carpet The chair
not being lifted pressed upon the carpet not only
with its own weight but with part OF the weight OF
the occupant.
The instant it moved an explosion took place. ex-
ceedngly sharp and loud a Chinese cracker. lie
was somewhat alarmed by it, and the alarm was IN
creased by exclamation from his wife that she was
hurt in the hand. The first thought was that some one
had thrown a cracker into the window. But the win
dow was closed Upon taking the eyes from the book
luminous body, about the size and nearly the shape
Of the flame Of candle, seen floating in the air
and moving towards the opposite side OF the ROOM 1t
had nearly reached the partition when lrst seen, and
when had reached the wall appeared to sink down
behind the sofa, where it disappeared. The color of
| the body blush white. II was seen with great
distncness SO that its shape and color accurately
determined.
The room was filled with pungent odor whose char
conveyed thempresson that both wooden cloth and
sulphur burning 1t much the strongest at the
spot behind the sofa where the meteor expired. Upon
removing the sofa, two three minutes after the explo
son the smell strong as be highly offensive.
1t was powerful as that which accompanies the ign
ton of match. 1t thought that the carpet
on fire.
The hand of Mrs. c. was found to have been burnt
near the knucke of the forenger The spot about
as large as dime, and for while was exceedingly
painful II much discolored and somewhat swollen.
ltremains dark purple, and painful 10 the touch.
1t was thought possible that explosive article
material might have been introduced into the ROOM
Every part of the carefully examined, but
nothing found to give any plansbiity to such asp
position. When it was over, nothing TO be but
| the dark spot upon the wounded hand