The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-02
THE NOME or THUNDER STORMS.
The Eject, Of n hall Of Electricity In the
Adirondack Regions.


KEEsEvIII.E, N. Y, June 2o-In this de-
liebtful spot, at the foot Of tho Adirondack
Mountains. we are in the iron region OF Lake
Cham plain. Perhaps the only thing that mars
the almost perfect desirabity Of this locality as
place OF re sideDce IL the dangerous nature of
our thunder storms. The frequency and dan
ger Of these h doubtless owing to the combined
circumstances Of the nearness of the noun
tains and the abundance OF the iron deposits
near the surface OF the earth. Accidents from
lightning are very frequent Last week We had
a singular freak OF thunderbolt about two
miles from this village. on FRIDAY, as Zion Ar
mold, the son Of MI. George Arnold. was stand
ing IN nis fat hers barn door watching the rapid
approach Of q dark anu threate ming cloud, which
ing toward the lake, he saw what appeared to
lie large ball OF lire. aoout three feet in diane
ter burst. as II seemed 70 MIN. ON the very TOP
OF :he north chimney Of nis fathers house, a
substantial aud tue edihce. few rods distant.
lie saw the top OF tue chimney crumOie TO
atoms; Immediately running ~ the house, he
rushed ~ stairs 10 the gHret. where
he found that tbs electric dun had kiudled
Co any extent, they we're easily exiting uished. lie
thon ran down stairs 10 what injury had
been done and found the whole house In tins
most singular and extraordinary state Of confu-
sion iron the erratic course " hioh the cleo
tric currents had taken. After oemolish-
several currents, passing on In different
directions, carrying destruction IN the path
ways. piss ftohk. ais. AfnOu sister, WIS
IN the front upper cham t,er. Here most
Of the damage was done. About one third II
the ceiling overhead was torn of. ripping away
tn. laibr as we'll as the plaster. Every picture
frame In the room WAS broken and "a long mir
ror was shivered To atoms. A shower Of mortar
dust was instantly precipttated over every Oh
tect Ia the room IN such clouds rs to make them
midst nRusna able in color. " not N form but
Miss HOag, VINO was standing by the Oed.
uninj Ired, and. alter tue CON motion was over.
passed calmly out VI the ruins unnurt. she felt
n little weak and aick, and the sense OF weak.
ness lasted several days, but she experienced no
other inconye niencs.
From that chamber the electric current passed
Into one below, taking OF the wall In the north
end. IL split the wall of the house on tue north
from TOP to foundation In a zigzag line. Every
room In the house was found IN the strangest
confusion, the furniture uispl Iced, and even
the cal pets, which had Just been laid own, torn
pended ITS fury In splittinx tue posts and raj
tiers.
The strangest part of the whole thing is that
none Of the family we're hurt, anu not one Of
the m heard any report from the explosion, nor
did they know the danger they had been In I'M
III young Arnold came Gown frum tue garnet
and told them that he had extinguished the
names, and then they began to examine and dis
covered the damage that had been done. At
Mr.. Hoag's, however. q mile on, the clap Of
thunder was 50 loud, and the conclusion 50 vio-
lent. II made two young girls, sisters OF Mrs.
Arnold, very sick. which continued for two
hourn.