The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-15
Singular Phenomenon i'll Maine.

The snow storm accompanied by lightning,
which occurred Eere on the 18th inst, says the
Bangor Mercury of Feb. 18th: wehave already
alluded to. John S. Dodge, writing from
Bass IlarLor, Mount Desert, to the Fountain
and Journal describes the same storm as it
appeared there, us awful and sublime. He
says thunder cloud passed over the place,
which, for terrific appearance, exceeded any
thing ever Witnessed there. 1t had been stormy
all day, and had tlown a gale. At seven p.
m. it ceased blowing, and flashes Of Lightning
cUmmrhccd, and soon thunder was heard, and
at half last seven O'Clock the scene was grand
and awful beyond description.
Mr.. Dodge thus describes the affair and the
injuric<:-'Ih he lightning was Of Il purple color,
and something's ppcarcd like balls Of fire. COM
Inc III through wlnG0Ws aT1 DOORS and down
the chimncys, while the houses trcmb.cd and
shook to their very foundations.
Mrs. 4. Holden was near a window, winding
up cock: Il ball Of fire came throug III the win
dow and struck her hand, which benumbed her
hand and arm. She then, with all in the house,
retrcatcd into the entry. Another flash sue
ccedcd, and in the room from which they had
retired ,cscmbcd Il volume of fire, whirug
round and producing Il acrackiing noise. y SIM
liar appearance Of fire was seen, and cracking
noises were heard, in a large number othouscs.
Some. who heard the noise, say that it sounded
like breaking glass.
Captain Maurice Rich had his light extin-
guishrd, and his wife was injured. lie got his
wife on t" bed and found match; at that in.
stalt another flash came and igntcd the match
and threw him several feet backwards. John
l.. Martin received severe shock that he could
not speak for Il long time.
\ great many persons were slightly injured
Some were struck in the feet, some in the eye,
while others were electrified. some powerfully
and some lightly. But what was very singu
lar, not person was killed or seriously in
iurcd, or a building damaged: but cluster of
trees, within Il few rods of two dwelling houses
was not thus fortunate. The electric fluid
came down among them, taking out by the
roots, with stones and earth, aud throwing all
in every direction. Some were left hanging
by their roots from the tops of the adjacent
standing trccs-ruots up, tops down.
The lightning, after entering the earth to the
depth of several feet, aud for space some
eight or ten feet in diameter. dverged 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, unobstructed 10y the solid frozen ground
or any other substance, to the distance Of
$40 feet, lifting, ovcturing, and throwing out
unks of frozen earth, some Of which were ten
or eleven feet long by four feet wide, and
hurling at a distance rocks, stones, and roots
The power here displayed was truly awful
and had it fallen on building, it would have
thrown it, with its inmates, into ten thousand
fragments 1t really seems that Gods mercy
is manifested in sparing our lives amidst such
dangers and destruction. And whilst we thus
enjoy his mercies, o, that we might be duly af:
frctcd with gratitude of hoart
understand that in South West IIarbor, and
North East Iarbor, (in this i>Iand) several
vessels had their masts rent in pieces; one had
some plank torn from her, and one man was
huockcd down, but not killed.
NORTHEASTERN RAILRoAD.-Wc under
stand that IL contract was entered into yoStcr-
day, by Mr. l.. II. Potter with the Norlheast
crn Railroad Company, for piliHg the first mile