The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-08-28
miraculous Escape.


The residence of our friend, Col. THOMAS J. An
cEuM at Kirkwood was struck by lightning on Mon
day evening last, between i and S O'Clock, during
heavy thunder storm.
An unusual q,,autity of tie electric fluid must have
concentrated its fury at tho point mentioned for the
House was literally struck all ocer. Its impossible
to give an adequate idea, in words OF this most re-
markab.e circumstance which. to understand correct
w. one must have seen, to appreciate the extent ana
terri6encss of the visitation.
The house stands Ia gradual elevation facing
South three stories igl-one Of which is basement
is built of wood. with two clIimncys to each Of
which there is lightning-rol attached The east end
was terribly torn in several places presenting the ap-
pcarancc Of having been cannonadcd by heavy dis
charge of artillery the weather. boarding in places torn
of blinds and sash crushed and plasterng- the
inside of the southeast parlor the second floor, aud
chamber on the northeast corner OF the third
thrown, with fragments Of wool i'll every direction
over the floors. The current passed from its eastern
aperture along the wall OF the paror to gilt picture
frame over the Fireplace, changing the appearance OF
the frame to that Of beautiful coored clouded mar
bic, thence to the frame Of large mirror, Immediate
ly below, anu liking down the lnantc-picce of IRON
marble -ploughed its way along seam in the floor,
tearing brussels carpet,ip its course. in another
paror immediately opposite, on the west sde in which
the family were seated sik,r entrance was effect
ed but not so violent in its INJURY to the house. The
wall pierced, .aud the current passing down and
out immediately iuthe rear Of where Col and Mrs.
AScnrM were sitting, in tle southwest corner Of the
room-Mrs, ~, with au iufnlt in her arms, not two
feet from the spot whence tia current escaped. The
southwest corner, the outside was torn open and
the nails in the Notwithstanding driven ont A pill
lar supporting the front piazza, in the immediate Vi
cinity was thrown out OF its place and large pieces Of
the saire 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,
were slli"ered though had been laid upon
them and several objects inthe yard were also struck
altogether, it is phenomenon that we have never
witnessed before and which no language Of ours can
satisfactorily describe. The escape Of the family from
instant death is most remarkable exhibition of Divine
Mercy particularly that of Mrs ANcRUM and her little
babc. who were closer the immediate current us it
passed out than any Of the rest.
The bolt passed the suppliants harmlcssly by
And left the freed captves to wonder
| The whole house was filled with smoke and frag.
mcnts plasterng thrown in every direction, and for
some time, believed to be on fire. but fortunately no
other damage was done, further than that which We
have attempted to describe. g.
The shock to those IN The >housc was necessarily
very severe but no one We are thankful to say sus.
aincd the slightest inury-a instance Of provdential
ntcrpostion, almost unparalleled and which, it were
n'pious to attribute to any: other than the Great
Ruling Power, in Whose hands are the issues of life
| and OF DEATH