Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-09

SINGULAR PHENOMENON IN MAINE
Thunder and Lightning SaOO StOrm.-1'he
snow storm accompanied by lightning, which oc
cured here ON the 18th inst, says the Bangor
Mercury Of Feb. 81, we have already alluded to.
John S. Dodge, writing from Bass llarbOr, Mount
Desert. TO the Fountain and Journal describes the
same storm, as it appeared there, as awful and
sublime. He says thunder cloud passed over
the place, which, for terrific appearance, exceed
ed anything ever witnessed there. 1t had been
stormy all day, and had blown gale. At seven
P. NJ, it ceased blowing, and flashes of lightning
commenced, and soon thunder was heard, and at
IL O'Clock the scene was grand, awful beyond
description.
Mr. Dodge thus describes the affair and the in
Juries;-T lightning was of purple color, and
sometimes appeared like balls of fire, coming in
through windows and doors, and down the chin
neys, while the houses trembed and shook to
their very foundations.
Mrs E. Holden was near a window winding
up clock a ball of fire came in through the
window and struck her hand, which benumbed
her hand & ann. She then, with all in the house,
retreated into the entry. Another flash succeed
ed, and in the room from which they had retired
resembled volume of fire, whirng round and
producing cracking noise. A similar appear.
ance of fire was seen, and cracking noises ere
heard, in large number of The houses. Some,
who heard the noise, say that it sounded ike
breaking glass.
Captain Maurice Rich Rad his light extnguish-
ed, and his wife was injured. He got his wife on
to a bed aud found match; at that instant an
other flash came and ignited the match and threw
him several feet backwards. John l.. Martin re-
celved 50 severe a shock that he could not speak
for a long ume
a great many persons were slightly injured.
Some were struck in the feet, some in the eve,
while others were electrified, some powerfully
and some lightly But what was very singular,
not a person was killed or seriously injured or
building damaged; but cluster of trees within
few rods Of two dwelling houses, was not TINS
fortunate. The electric haid came down among
them, taking them out by the roots with stones
and earth, and throwing all in every direction
Some were left hanging by their roots from the
tops. of the adjacent standing trees-roots up,
tops down.
The lightning, after entering the earth to the
depth of several feet, and for space of eight or
ten feet in diameter, diverged into four different
directions. One course which it took, led through
the open land, making chasm to the depth of
several feet, and continued its march, unobstruct-
ed by the solid, frozen ground or any other sub
stance to the distance of 80 feet, lifting, over
turning, and throwing out junks of frozen earth,
some OF which were ten or eleven feet long, by
four feet wide, and hurting at a distance, rocks,
stones and roots. The power here displayed was
truly awful, and had it fallen on a building, it
would have thrown it with its inmates, into ten
thousand fragments. 1t really seems that God Is
mercy is manifested in sparing our lives amidst
such dangers and destruction.
In Southwest Harbor, and Northeast harbor,
I'm this lsland) several vessels had their masts
lent IN pieces; one had some plank torn from her
and one man was knocked down, but not killed.