The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-30
House Struck by lightning - Re
mnrlabIe Escape from Dca;h-Pe
cniiar Electric .5Iuc7iinc.

From the Dayton o. Journal, Oc.obsrJS.
On the night of the recent thunder
storm the house Of Lewis Meaiy, foreman
in the mills Of Harbine s. Co, near Har-
binc'S station, d., Y. and G. railroad, few
miles east of Dayton, was struck by light
ming, and was saved from destruction as by
"a miracle. Mr.. and Mrs. Mcaly were pre-
pairing to retire for the night; the storm
was raging without, and the thunder
caps were almost deafening. Suddenly
there was q terrific crash as though the
house was coming down about their heads ::
Mrs. MCalv was Frustrated upon the floor
as though stricken dead, aud Mr.. MeaIy
was also sent whriug upon the floor, and
the couple were unconscious for few
moments. ilr. Mcaly says his senses soon
partially returned to him; lie was almost
sthed in smoke, and scarcely knowing
what he was about, rushed out into the
open air and into the rain, which was fall
ing very heavily just then. He was almost
instantly restored TO perfect conscious
ness, and catching up ! bucket filed with
water, lie ran into the house, where nc met
his wife making her way out OF doors ; and
their bedroom was filed with smoke and
Game. The window curtains, the clothing
On the walls, the carpet on the floor, &c.,
were on fire, and the flames were getting
under pretty brisk Roadway. BY Il judi
cious use vi the water, and by prompt and
energetic application OF comforts and
quilts, the fire was sm0thCrcd and cXtin-
gui>hed, and q portion of the clothing
saved, though the most Of it was greatly
Injured. Two or three pairs Of hoop
skirts, which were hanging on the wall,
were so hot when icrk"d down that the
steel hoops doubled across Mr.. Ncaly's
hand as though they had been apple
parings; and, strange 10 say, they did not
burn his hands in the least. He attributes
this to the large amount Of electricity
with which he was charged. lie has not
yet recovered fully from the effects of
the shock nc received on that night.
There is 10 question but that his sudden
freak OF rushing cut into the pure air and
into the drcnchng storm that night was
the means Of saving his house from con-
ilagraton. The electric iuid had struck
the house at the side Of the chimney, and
had made its track down into the room
where Mr.. and Mrs. Mealy slept, burning
il away aud setting fire TO The iniiamnable
articles in reach. The heavy storm of rain
lad cX.ineuiShcd the fire OF the exterior,
but Of course il had 10 effect On the rapidly
kiuGling flames inside. Mrs. Mealy was
rendered inseD3iGle on the instant the bolt
struck the house. Her husband was just
placing his revolver under lis pillow, and
when the dreadful shock came, her last
thought was that the pistol had been acct
Genta!ly discharged, and that herself and
husband bad been shot, and that uncon-
sciousncss was death. At the moment the
sensation was agoniZing; but instant reliei
followed, and then total suspension o!
the faculties succeeded. The recovery OF
consciousness was rapid, and Mrs. Mealy
attributes this to the odor Of birthstone III
the room, which penetrated her lungs and
made her fight for breath.
Altogether, this event is one OF the
stranpcst we remember 10 have heard d
TRANSFERRING in this valley. When we care
fully consider the circumstances we are
as,onishcd that the victims to utter cleo,
trio prostrations should have recovered
themselves in time to escape with thel'
lives and save their property from destruc
ton.