Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-09-21
[From the Boston Traveller, Aug. g..
Remarkable Freaks of lightning.

One of the most remarkable freaks Of light
ming ever known in this vicinity, and the mos
singular we ever read of, happened in Brfeld
Mass, on Wednesday evening last, during the
thunder storm. The house of Mr.. Henrv Ro-
gers, located upcn slight eminence, entirely
free from trees and shrubbery was struck by
lightning and almost totally destroyed, without
the slightest injury to the inmates. As near
as we could Judge, the lightning entered the
roof, near the centre, and tore therefrom on
each side about one-third part of the whole
surface. The house was one story, and direct
ly beneath this place was bed on which were
sleeping three children. So near were they to
the roof that the posts of the bedstead came
within foot of the boards, which we're thrown
to the ground, north and south.
The charge then passed to the east part of
the house, tearing off the entire end and throw
ing fragments over forty-eight yards into
neighboring field; it then entered bedroom,
split the head and foot boards from a bedstead
occupied by two young men, shattered the posts
tearing the paper from the walls, thence pas
sing into another room, taking from under a
feather bed, on which was lying Mr.. Rogers
and wife, straw bed, and scattering the straw
il every direction. Every pane of glass in the
house was broken, and some Of the fragments
threwn thirty-six feet in southerly direction
The lightning then separated, taking a souther-
ly and northerly course, throwing privy upon
stone wall, passing through barn, IN which
were animals and quantity of hay, thence
along the road, splitting from rock upon a
stone wall a piece weighing twenty pounds,
throwing it some ten feet into the read, and
passing into the earth. Mrs, Rogers was the
only person awake. She heard the report,
which she says was very loud, land saw the de-
struction going on, which she represents as be-
widering and incomprehensible.
The lightning must 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 passed from one room to an other, cards
from rack were found behind the mirror which
hung opposite, a piece of meat which hung In
the cellar-way was found perfect on the second
floor, and pouch of powder was found perfect
in the road. The stove was shattered and
broken, crockery ware driven in all directions,
fragments of furniture pierced the partitions,
and everything mysterious in its disposition
The clock was stopped at three minutes 10 elev.
en-, the pendulum was displaced and has moi
been found. Had keg of powder exploded
| in the cellar it would not have made more
perfect wreck. But yet, strange as it was no
one Of the seven inmates were injured. A sci
entific friend, whom we induced to visit the
spot with us, enjOins upon us to present it as
one of the most remarkable illustrations OF the
most remarkable illustrations Of the protection
afforded by feather bed from the effects o
lightning, as it is his op inion that this alone
saved them from an instant death.