Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-14

A REMARKABLE Story OF THE FREAKS OF
ADMINISTRATIONS correspondent at Newbury-
port writes as follows, relative to house
struck by lightning, in Byfeld. 1t is the
result of his personal and careful observations
on the spot - ...... ...
"One of the most remarkable freaks of
Ii htning ever known in this vicinity, and the
most singular We ever read Of, happened in
ByfeId On Wednesday evening last, during
the thunder storm. The house Of Mr.. Hen
ry Rogers, located upon slight eminencc,
entirely free from trees Or shrubbery, was
struck by lightning and almost totally destroy
ed, without the slightest injury to the in
mates. As near as we could Judge, the light
ming entered the roof, near the centre and
tore thcrctrom on each side about one third
part Of the whole surface. The house was
one story, and directly beneath this place was
bed on which was sleeping three children.
So near were they to the roof that the posts
of the belstcad came within loot Of the
boards which were thrown to the ground
north and SOUTH The charge then passed to
to the east part Of the house, tearing off the
entire end, and throwing fragments over forty
eight yards into neighboring field it then
entered IA bedroom, split the head and foot
boards from bedstead occupied by two
young men, shattered the posts, tearing the
paper from the walls, thence passing into an
other room, taking from under feather bed,
on which was lying Mr.. Rogers and wife, a
straw bed and scattering the straw in every
directon Every pane of glass in the house
was broken, and some OF the fragments thrown
thirty-six feet in Southerly direction. The
lightning then separated, taking Il southery
and nortnerly course, throwing p.ivy upon
a stone wall, passing through barn in which
were animals and a quantity Of hay, thence
along the road, splitting from rock upon a
stone wall pcice weighing twenty pounds,
throwing it some ten feet into the road and
passing into theearth. Mrs. Rogers was the
only person awake. She heard the report
which she says was very 'oud, and saw the
destruction going on, which she represents as
bewldering and incomprehensible. The light
ming mnSt have passed within few inches of
the heads of the young men, as The head and
foot boards, which were shattered, could not
have been more than that distance from their
heads. Everything in the house was in the
most singular confusion. Articles were pass
ed from one room TO another, cards from II
rack were found behind mirror which hung
opposite, piece Of meat which hung in the
celar-way was found on the second floor. and
a pouch Of powder was toaad perfect in the
road. The stove was shattered and broken,
crocker1 ware drove in al lireetions, fag-
ments o nrnitnre pierced thq partitions, aud
everything mysterious lc It's disposition
TIC coek was stopped Al ,hree mipues 10
eleven tae pen luum displaced, and has not
been found. Had keg Of powae. exploded
in the cellar, it would not have made more
perfect wreck. But yet, strange as it was,
not one Of the seven inmates were injured. -
A scientific irend whom we induced to visit
the spot with us, enioins upon us to present
it as one Of the most remarkable illustrations
of the protection afforded bya feather. bed
from the effects Of lightning as it is his opn-
ion that this alone saved them from instant
de- III. Hht
Crowdsof people have visited the spot, and