The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-20
4 CAR j. d LIGHTNING.
4 9c(,A.NNoNaDEoF HEAVENS ARTILLERY
FREAKS OF LIGlrTNrNG- WELLINGs
TORN TO PIECEs-h FISHING PARTY. Nc

In New York, Rhode Island. and Massa-
chnsetts, on Wednesday, THURSDAY, and
Friday, the most terrible thunderstorm
within the memory OF the Coolest inhabi-
tant" prevailed. Lightning struck right
and left during its prevalence. In one town
1t struck eleven times. During Thursday
night the rain kept pouring down ever and
amor, while the thunder. lightning flashes,
and excessive heat were still undated. The
morning of Friday was still and gloomy.
There was little sunshine, yet the utmo-
sphere was condensed with heat, which
seemed to descend like steam from the yupory
sky. AT about halfInst 10 o'clock the cirrus
cumulus and cirrus-stratus could be seen
shifting up from the horizon to the zenith,
until, at IL O'Clock, the heavy mass of atmo-
sphere vapor burst upon the earth in tor
rents. The Providence Bulletin of Friday
says:
All night long the vivid glare of tue light
ming was visible In The clouded sky, and
about \ O'clock this morning the forces
gathered in this vicinity, and we had a
thunderstorm that aroused the slccrers and
shock tho stout. st hearts. The lightning
became vivid. and half dozen shocks OF
thunder created more CONSERVATION than
Plantann,lr'S comet. Every one was conf
dent that the lightning had struck mar by.
and in this particular no one was in error.
for the morning reports show that in every
part of the city the subtle fluid has recorded
its wonderful presence. and many persons
have occasion TO make especial Thanksgiving
for delirCi:licc from mortal peril. We think
the traditional Oldest inhabitant has no mell-
DRY of such lall-hour in Providence. The
fall Of rain was 5J-l00 of IN inch, but the
descent of electricity was frightful.
The house No. 1G1 Plane street, situated
in the valley of the Rhode Island Hos
pital. owned Ivy Mrs. y. Bishop and occll-
pied ny Mrs. Sarah Flanagan. was Str,lck
during the storm. The chimney Was split
open in four different seams. one of the ere
vices being two inches IN width. The stove
was thrown into the middle of the kitchen
and broken. and the window-ralics and
crockcry much damaged. The bolt seemed
to diIluSc itself all over the house, leaving by
the windows and cellar.
The Lightning struck the chillincy of tho
thrcc-story dwclin@-housc occupied by Will
lldtl vi 4btl hhtN was Nlbut''t
for few moments. and Mr.. OpcnSlIaw, who
was passing from one room to another, was
thrown downand received Il shock, of which,
up to this noon, he still felt the effects. It's
course could be traced around the different
rooms, sometimes ploughng Il flrrow along
the timbcrS and disappearing at nail. lcar-
ing Il hlackcned spot like that made Ivy the
lame Of lighted candle upon the wood
work. The electric fluid finally left by way
of the cellar.
a two-story house on Hawthorn street
near Vineyard street, owned and occupied
by William Wood, was also struck The
lightning entered by the chimney and went
into the attic, scattering the plaStcring from
it to the floor, tearing down the mantel-
piece and wrcnching the casing from the
door. There were no marks Of its effects in
the other parts of the house. except Il plcnti-
tul supply of SCOT blown from the chimney
in the different rooms. William Wood, Jr.,
who slept in the attic, was wal'encd, and
found himself standing by The window
which was open, without ably knowledge OF
how he came there, ard feeling litlmbed 10y
the sleek. He soon recovered and was H.
| we'll is ever. His brother: who slept in the
same bed. was awake, and says he saw the
| li"htnin" go out Of the window like ball OF
| tir,,