The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-10-18
Freaks of lightning.

Freaks Of lightning.
The Peoria en- Republican gives the
following account Of the terrible effects of
a lightning stroke in that city last Sunday
night: a-
Last night, little after 12 o'clock.
those Of our citizens who had retired were
startled from their slumbers by one Of the
most deafening peals Of thunder that, we
candidly believe, ever rumbled and rever-
beraied through the armament. 1t was
not particularly sharp, but was rather .
collected roaring, as if a million pieces Of
artillery had been discharged al once, and
the sound seemed in no direction or 10.
cality, but TO 6ll all space; in fact, as if
the entire univasse united in the terrific
utterance. The lightning which preceded
the explosion. (stric,ly speaking. although
it appeared to be in the same instant, J
was as intensely vivid as it is possible to
conceive. Ii must lave been one OF the
most voluminous bolts Of electricity that
ever descended, for its effects were amaz.
ing, and almost unprecedented. 1t SEEM
ed to burst in all its Jury upon the resi-.
dence OF Capt. Morrison, on Third street.
and left in its trace sad record. The
house was a story and bali brick. The
bolt first struck the east chimney, and
passed down the same to q bar, where il
forked, one OF the forks ripping up the roof
on the south side OF the building. tearing
apart the east wall, and running along
the earth in the back yard to the privy;
another fork passed down the dining
room, sha,tering the ceiling, and finally
took the same shoot as the other, running g
nearly parallel with il 10 the privy. where
they met. third fork passed into the
second story, where it branched into two
opposite directions--one branch streak
ing through the chambers, shattering into
fragments door which was closed, and
passing out through the west side of the
house, after which it ran over the ground
into an adjoining yard in singular man
ner; and the other branch passed down
the stairs into the hall, and out al the front
door. tearing up the outside steps and
coursing about the front yard and tearing
up the earth in the same manner as the
other forks did back Of the house. At the
loot OF the stairs, two sons Of Capt. Nor.
rson were lying in the hall. having cho.
sen iha. place on account of the warmth
of the weather. The oldest of these re-
ceived The whole force Of the electric
stream. and was rendered senseless and
incapable of speech, only giving utterance
to his suff-rings in a few feeble groans.-
Instant efforts were made 10 restore him
but they were oi no avail-in hall an hour
lie was extinct. The body, 10 all appear.
ances. was not injured in the least, there
not being even fracture Of the skim
This morning the face wore an expression
as natural as life. and presented the sp.
.pearance OF calm slumber. The othe:
brother was terribly lacerated, both thighs
being furrowed vertically, to the bone, by
number of frightlul gashes. The ply.
sician who is in attendance upon him has
but little hopes Of his recovery. 3a
| Capt. Morrison was sitting in the dining
room at the time Of the catastrophe, look
ing out Of the south window, and he de.
scribes the impression produced on him
as similar to being struck upon the head
with brick. But in moment he recov.
cred from the shock, and discovering the
room filled with dust, and the wreck Of the
wall lying around him, he immediately
proceeded to look alter the safety Of bis
family. who were uttering frightful shrieks
from all parts OF the house, when the sigh
| of his two sons-one in the last agonies
Of death, and the other weltering in blood
struck his stout heart with terror, and
completely unmanned him., His daugh.
ter, young girl, narrowly escaped inju,
ry. although she was considerably shock.
ed. She slept in the, chamber, the dool
Of which was shattered as above stated
She said that her first idea was that the
house had been blown up with powder.
There were two other ladies sleeping il
the house at the time, neither OF whom
were seriously injured.
The building presented this morning /
4 frightful Appearance. having heen com
ple,ely riddled, from the roof TO the cellar
The steps TO-, the upper chambers. as wei
as those, which led to the cellar, wer,
thrown some ten inches from The walls
and so shattered as to render them unsaE
to use. One Of the iron rods used Il
! fastan the carpet to the. steps. was takeI
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