American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-08-04
NEWS DEP ARTMEN'r.
Appalling Catastrophe.
One Person killed and a number injured BY
lightning

lightning.
On Monday last, after the adjourn
ment of the county court of Taylor, and
while number of persons were still
standing within the courtroom and
tho entry thereto being detained by
terrific storm which was then rag
ing, tho cupola of the courthouse was
struck by lightning, and tho electric
fluid, in its decent to the earth, prostra-
ted some fifteen persons. ono of whom
was instantly killed. and about half of
tho rest seriously injured. Our inform
ant who was in the court room at the
time Of the occurrence, represents tn Q
scene as a most terrifying one. The
building appeared to him to be coming
down bodily under the pressure ofsome
tremendous weight; and he ins,inctively
felt for support. Collecting his
thoughts. however, the nature of the oc-
currence was instantly evident to him;
and he and the other persons ran out at
the sidedoors of the building. Just
then, the scream of somo ladies on the
other side Of the street convinced them
that a sad calamity had resulted. and on
reaching the front of tho building the
character of the calamity was visible
to all. Stretched on tho bricks, lay q
number of persons; in the midst Of them
the denuded body ofRev. Hezekiah Dun
ham, tho young man who was killed, and
whose person had been stripped from
every vestige of clothing. Fortunately
for the sufferers, tho persons present
knew the best method of restoring them
20 consciousness, and soon dragged.
them out into the rain, and commenced
dashing water OH them. After the suf.
ferers found lying in tho entry had been
cared for, the jury-rooms above, we're
visited, and in one ofthese was discov-
cred three more individuals who had
been SO stunned as to be unable to help
themselves. Two ofthem were taken
out into the rain; the friends of the third
from mistaken Kindness would not let
him be taken out and he consequently
suffered much moro than his compan-
ions. OF the persons shocked, some
recovered SO as to got away from Prun-
tytown the Same evening; yet on Tues
day morning. (when our informant left,)
there were six or eight confined to their
rooms If not to their beds, and one or
more ofthem in a very precarious con.
dition. Since then, we have not heard
from Pruutytown.
Mr.. Durham, licensed to the ministry
about two weeks ago by the Baptist
church in Middlevlle) was standing
when the electric fluid struck him in the
court house with his head leaning a.
gainst the casing. The other persons
iniured were standing near him, in the
entry. One man was considerably
scorched by the heating of pair of
spectacles which he had in his pocket
Auother's watch proved so attractive
that it was partially fused. Mr.. A. w.
Best, though standing some twenty or
more feet from the track of the fluid, ,
had his right arm. which was in contact
with wall paralyzed from the elbow
down; aud this without paining him,
for he did not know the fact until he un :
dertook to handle a bucket. After adj
minstering to the relief of others and
moro serious sufferers using only his
left hand, he took off his hat and stood
in the rain for a few minutes, when his
arm soon became subject to his will and
free from every unpleasant sensation.
it is estimated that five hundred dol
lars will cover all the damages done to
the courthouse.
These are all the particulars that we
can give. The calamity was fearful
one. A few more such which, how
ever, we trust will not soon come upon
us-wil convince our people of tho ne
cessity for lightning rods. Electricity
is subject to the laws Of the God who
made it, and ii knowledge of these laws
has enabled man To invent an instrument
by tho use of which he can conduct thai,
subtle fluid, harmless to the earth--a
fact that many persons seem not to ro-
cognize as such.--Fairmont Virginian.