Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-16

ANAL OF FIRE TWICE VISITS THE CITY HALL
FIRE wATCH AND Duks CONSIDERABLE
DAMAGE.
"Say. Mr.. Reporter
Looking about and above us we found
that the voice came from the roof of the
city Hall, and Mr. Richardson, the Tire
watch, WAS reckoning us to gravitate that
way.
We went up and as soon as the exhaus-
ton the walk gave birth to was dispclled
we asked what WAS wanted.
BE seated, be seated, and I'll tell you
We did As directed, and Mr. Richardson
began 10 tell his tale, which is M follows
TN Thursday night between 10 and IL
O'Clock, he says he was attending TO bust
ness AS usual and slraining his eyes AS he
always does that lie may be the first to de-
toct fire and sound the alarm. The night
WAS pretty one and save two small ones
one in the northwest aud the other IN the
| eouthwest--not a cloud 0hscured the
| henN ems lowering about these clouds was
| lazy and pale hcatlightning which would
at Intervals make attempts at illumination
Mr. Richardson took another careful look
/ Al the city below him, and went inside the
cupola TO refresh himself with cup Of
| coffee and take % lunch.
! lie WAS sitting down eating his meal, and
! everything around him was M still AS
! death, when suddenly a ball Of fire, shaped
/ like iull-grOWn sea-nettle, made its APP
| pearAuce, aud alter dancing around with a
after assuming the shape Of round
| shouldercd man.
Where this hre-hall came from Mr.. Rich
| ard8On AYERS that II Is impossible for him TO
1 tell what its mission WAS he has no means
OF knowing; where It went he don't care.
lie did not eat Any more supper after this,
| but went On the roof OF the hall and looked
| tor the strange visitor, but its disappear
Huce WAS as sudden as its advent lie
wasn't scared, hut felt somewhat uneasy. AS
most pcuple would under such circum-
.f tHrNH.
NutAtug unusual occurred after this until
Saturday night. between y and O'Clock.
At this hour MIR. Richardson was alone
and standing At the north end OF the hall
with his face 10 the south. The sky wai
] clear, the moon aud stars shOnC out brightly
rnd not 70 li' inH soul could he seeh on th'
streets below. Mr. Richardson says IL wa
at this time, and while lac was still standinf
100 e. position indicated above, that IN,
same bright a-nettle-shaped ball of fire
struck the front of the railing surrounding
the GupOlt jumped from there to the bell
ilour, then to the top OF the cupOla, An,
from there ran up the lightning rod ant
disappeared.
IL says it shook everything it struck. an,
the noise 1t made after getting on the rui
, WAS simply hiFitiul. In the midst Of al
the din n created the eagle which sur
/ mruuia the rod came down three feet ant
Htill remains in that position. Whateve
the visitor was n must bee given the crcdi
ct being powerful. for II bent the rod 10 nj
elbow, and came near taking It away with il
Those who are so inclined can lind plent
of food In this for reflection and study, an
| draw their own conclusions ~ to what
Q was, what 1t WAS doing here, and what
T. | prngnusticateH. Many will say 1t was
u holt Of lightning, hut lightning iH yer
= seldom accompanied by u cluudleaH sky.
q Nh Richardson has been working
q solve the problem since saturday nigkt bu
d has given ii up, M we shall have to do
% EVERY EVENING Of I'm instant