Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-07-24
Henrr Thunder Storm.

The lightning struck in q large number OF
places in this city and vicinity, doing consid-
cradle damage to persons and property, and
in one place a woman was instantly killed.
The Phillips School House was struck, and
several panes of glass broken. A tree on the
northerlv side of the School House was
struck a the same instant. Several hundred
children were in the School House at the
| time, but not one was injured.
At precisely thirty-ive minutes past two
o'clock, Capt Savage, of Police Station No.
| l, had q telegraphic communication from
source entirely Independent of " the powers
that be-" at City Hall. An explosion took
! place at the terminus of the wires in the sta
ton house, the report being similar to the dis
charge of pistol. A bright flame enveloped
the machine for several feet around, for the
moment leaving a strong smell of sulphur.
No person happened to be enough to
feel the shock. The Captain Immediately
answered back, All right here !" and
" switched off" the connection.
The residence of Stephen Tucker, Esq,
corner of Washington and Camden streets,
was struck, but no serious injury was done.
A stroke of lightning tore the sign from
over the door CT the bookstore of William
Hickey. I2S Federal street.
In Roxbury, the lightning descended in
several places. resulting in no serious damage
to life or property. The house of John Con.
ron, in Russell place, was struck, and Mrs.
Conron was considerably shocked, but not
seriously injured. The lightning also struck
the old - Tide Mill House." so called. large
building, occupied by a number of Irish fam
lilies.
In Chelsea, two houses were struck, one of
which was damaged to a great extent, and
the inmates of both placed in imminent
peril.
At the house of Mr.. William Elery, it
shattered the window easing and glass, and
scattered the plastering in all directions.
clock standing on a bureau was entirely de-
molshed, and the glass thrown into an ad
joining room. Other damages were done,
and the inmates were seriously affected by
the shock, but not permanently injured.
The house occupied by Daniel Manson,
was struck, and Mrs. Manson Frustrated.
She remained on the floor insensibe for some
time. Her little daughter was likewise pros
trated. but escaped injury.
A barn was destroyed in Winthrop, being
struck by lightning.
The house Of Mr.. John TaggRrd, of Wa
verify, was struck by lightning, doing consid-
cradle damage. Three ladies were more or
less stunned, but not seriously injured.
In Cambridge the fluid struck in at least
nine places, doing great damage to buildings
and other property, and hazarding the lives of
several persons. A house owned by Mr. Nc
Cloud, and occupied by several Irish families,
was struck, and the wife of Barney Mullen
Instantly killed The deceased was about As
years of age, and leaves husband and two
children. The house was not seriously in
jured.
The residence of Franklin Hunnewell, was
considerably damaged by a thunderbolt, which
Frustrated an elderly lady, and removed her
shoes from her feet
Four other buildings, q schooner, and tree
were struck, but were damaged only to a
tritling extent.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
Columns lard oil factory in Chelsea, was
struck, and man stunned by the shock, but
subseq uenty recovered.
The dwelling house Of Thos. Dunwoody,
Old Cambridge, was struck, and serious iniu.
ry done.
Mr.. Conductor Jones, on the Union Rail
way, was stunned by shock, and driver of
one of the Watertown cars was so seriously
affected as to compel him to relinquish his
post.
Two houses on or near the Milldam were
struck, but no great amount of damage done
The machinery IN the shop of Messrs. Bird
& Co., in East Boston, was so charged with
electricity that the men in handling it receiv-
ed quite heavy shocks.
At Lawrence, the lightning struck the
house of MIR. D. Hart, the fluid divided into
three parts, one following stud from one story
to another to the cellar, and there were alb
sorbed in the earth. The other two currents
IN r.oJ
connection with the roof, uniting with posts
running to the ground. In the several courses
the destruction was complete. Timbers shiv-
cred to slivers, plastering and laths torn off
and scattered in every direction, breaking
glass and whatever else came in collision.
One of the attics was occupied by Mr.. VIM.
Harper and his son, a young lad. Mr. Harp.
er's bed usually stood head against the chin
ney where the lightning first descended, but
the day previous it was moved to the opposite
side of the room, bringing the head against
the spar which was used as a conductor on
the west side of the house. The shower com =
ing on, Mr.. Harper, fearing that his boy Nigh
become frightened, left his own bed and sought
that of his son in another corner, about eight
feet distant. About fifteen minutes after, the
house was struck as above, showing conclu-
| lively that had he remained in either of his
| first positions, he would have lost his life.
For a few seconds after the crash Mr. Harper
was insensbe, but on coming to his senses,
to use his own words, he passed his hand over
his head, but not finding either blood or brains
| concluded that he was not hurt, and turned
| to his son, who was perfectly insensible,
| seized him under the arm, and turned to de-
scend the stairs, when the boy, partially re-
| covering, called to Mr.. Hart, telling him that
| his father was killed, when in fact he was be-
ing carried down stairs by him. The middle
! rooms were unoccupied but were completely
demolished The ground floor on the west
was occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Nu-
! gent, who were very slightly affected. Mr.
Hart and family, occupying another part Of
the building, were unaffected, except by be.
ing thoroughly frightened
At Dover, N. H., Thursday afternoon, the
building of the Manufacturing Corporation
No. 5, was struck BIZ lightning, and several o
the female operatives were Frustrated. Two
of them were carried home helpless, but wert
subseq uently restored to consciousness. Tit
lightning set fire to some waste, but thu
flames were soon extinguished.
The Providence journal says the lightning
struck in several places, once in the Park
where it tore up the ground and ripped thu
bark from a tree. The electricity played upor
the types in our Office, and the letters in thu
cases glnwed like fire.
A terrific thunder storm was experienced
at Albany and on the Hudson on Wednesda,
night Rain poured in torrents the light
ming flashed wildly, and the thunder bolt
roared trighuully. During the storm hal
stones of an unusually large size fell, doing
however, bnt little damage. We can lenri
| L Ia Ja.s 4