The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-09-05
Miraculous Z scape.

The residence OF our friend, Col. Thorn
as AucTum, at Kirk wood, WAS struck by
IIghmlug on Monday evening last, be
tween 7 and o'clock, duung heavy
thunder storm.
An unusual quantity Of the electric
ilnld must have concentrated its fury at
The point mentioned, for the House was
literally struck all over. 1t is impossible
to give an adequate idea, in words, of
lh1s most remarkable circumstance.
whch, to understand correctly, one must
ha'" seen. to appreciate the extent and
terrU.cuc>, Of the visltaliou.
The house stands on gradual eleva
ton, facing So",h, three stories high
one OF which is basement is built of
wood, with two chrmuevs, to each OF
winch there is lightning rod attached.
Ihc east end was terribly torn in several
places, presenting the appearance of hav
mg been cannOnadGd by heavy dis
charge OF artillery, the weather boarding
III places torn oil, blinds aud sashes
crushed, and pIasterrng ON the inside of
'"e soulH cast pnrlor, Oh tie second floor,
ana chamber on the north east corner
OF tnc thi;I--throwu, With fragments OF
wood, IA every direction over the floors.
Inc vunent passed from it's eastern ap
rrI"ro along the wall Of the par,or to d
gIli picture frame over the fire place,
changing 'he appearance Of The frame TO
that OF q eau,Iiui colored cluuded mar
bic, theL. o., 10 the frame Of large mirror,
immediately below, and taking down the
ns'nlIe-liece ol iron pIoughed
It's way along seem ~ the floor, tearing
brussels carpet in its course. In anoth.
er PaiIor immediately opposite, on the
west de, IN which me iamIiy were sea
ted, "a similar entrance vas effected but
not 50 No'ent 40 It's injury TO the honse
lhc wal! was pierced, and the current
passing down and out, immediately 10
tue rear OF where Col. and Mrs. Aucrum
were sltung, IN the south west corner of
the rOum-Mrs a with an iutant in her
arms, not tao feet from the spot whence
the cuIreut secaped. The southwest cor
uer, on Ihc outside, was torn open and
tue nails IN the weather. boarding driven
ou'. a p,lInr, supporting the front piazza,
IN The Immediate vicinity, was thrown
out Of its place, AID large pieces Of the
same carried some distance into The yard
Several other places were struck about
the house. The side Of the large back
steps, leading into the yard, wete shiv
cred as though an axe had been laid up
Oh them, and several objects in the yard
were also struck.
Altogether, 1t is a phenomenon that
we lave never Witnessed before, and
which TO language Of ours can sstisfacto
rIly describe. The escape OF the family
hom instant death is most remarkable
exhibition Of Divine Mercy, particularly
that of Mrs. Ancrum and her little babe,
who were closer the immediate current
AS 1t passed out than any Of the rest.
The bolt passed the suppliants harmlessy by,
And left the freed captives to aonder."
The whole house was filed with smoke
and fragments Of plastcring thrown in
every direction, and for some time, be.
iIeyed TO be on fire, but fortunately 10
other damage was done, further than
that which We have attempted to des.
cribe.
The shock TO those in the house was
necessarily very severe, but TO one, we
are thankful to say, sustained the slight.
est jnjury--an instance of Proyidential
inter2ostion, almost unparalleled, and
which, 1t were lmpioGs to attribute TO
any other than the Great Ruling Power,
in whose hands are the issues Of life and
Of death. Camden Journal.