Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-07-31
MISCELLANY
Singular Electric Phenomenon, e,u

The New Bedford Mercury gives the fol-
lowing very valuable communication from 1
highly respectable gentleman of that city, one
Of good scientific a,taiuments, and NOT easily 10
be deceived" Il 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 we'll remember case which oc-
cnrred in a country town Of Massachusetts, of
ball Of electric FIRE which rushed through a
long entry, the doors at each end being open,
though there was no storm at the time raging.
We believe there is an instance, which was
celebrated in English literature of the last Gen.
tury, Of two persons struck BY lightning in
broad sunlight while in field haying"
On Saturday evening, July 5th, about 8
o'clock, the writer Of this was sitting in his Ii
brary reading. He was seated at table plac-
ed against crate and beneath mantel on the
south side of the room. He was near the end
of the table, which brought him near a win
dow in the southeast corner of the room.
His wife came in and seated herself in an
arm chair with rockers, near the other end Of
the table. Finding herself little too far off
from the lamp, IA sslar) she took hold Of the
arms of the chair. and without raising it from
the floor, moved il towards the table. She did
not get out Of the chair, but simply raised her
self so as to permit the chair to be drawn over
the carpet. The chair not being lifted, was
pressed upon the carpet not only with its own
weight, but with part of the weight of the
occupant. .t..
The instant it moved an explosion took place,
exceedingly sharp aud loud as Chinese
cracker. He was somewhat alarmed BY it,
and the alarm was increased by an 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
window was closed. Upon taking the eyes
from the book, luminous body, about the size
and nearly the shape of the fame of candle,
was seen floating in the air, and moving to-
wards the opposite of the room. 1t had nearly
reached the PARTITION when first seen, and when
it had reached the wall it appeared to sink
down behind the sofa, where it Disappeared
The color Of the body was a blush white 1t
was seen with great distinctness, SO that its
shape and color were accurately determined.
The room was filled with a pungent odor,
whose character conveyed the impression tha,
both woolen cloth and sulphur were burning
1t was much the stronger at the spo, behind the
sofa, where the meteor expired. Upon re-
moving the sofa, two or three minutes after the
| explosion, the smell was so strong as TO be
highly offensive. 1t was as powerful a. that
which accompanies the ignition of match
twas thought tina. the carpe, was on fire.
| The hand of Mrs. c. was found to have been
burnt near the knuckle of the forefnger. The
spot was about as large as dime, and for a
while was exceedingly painful. 1t was much
discolored and somewhat swollen Ii remains
dark purple, and painful to the touch
1t was thought possible that some explosive
article or material might have been introduced
into the room. Every part of the room wa.
carefully examined, but nothing was found io
give any plausibility to such supposition
When it was over, nothing was to be seen but
the dark spet upon the wounded hand