Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-02
THE STORM.
THUNDER-DAMAaEs BY LIGHTNING
AND FLOOD.


Last Friday morning was the hottest and sul-
triest day we have had this Summer. About
one o'clock the clouds began to thicken omi-
nously in the east and north; not a breath OF
air was stirring, but from the horizon to the
zenith the black clouds were whirling and mix
ing as though churned by mighty contending
winds. 1t was grand sight to watch the 1or-
nation and approach of the storm, There was
war In the skies, and
'"The gathering clouds like meeting armies
Came on apace.'
Soon darkness shrouded the landscape, and
the storm burst in its fury. The VIVA hasnes
of lightning, followed by the crash OF Inc mum
derbolt. the rain descending in torrents, ana
the wind blowing hurricane. made one OF Inc
most terrible and yet beautiful scenes we have
ever witnessed. The air was hlled WIN elec'
tricity, and bolt followed bolt thick ana
fast as though from battery OF heavy artll-
lery. 1t was grand, terrible, beautiful. Inc
stoutest hearts quailed before the mighty strlle
of the elements, and others vainly sought theiI
innermost chambers to shut out the souno ol
the reverberating thunder. Never before had
we so fully realized the beauty and grandeur Of
Byron's description of a storm in the Alps:
'sThe sky is changed, and such q change! oh
night.
And storm, and darkness We are wondrous
strong,
Yet lovely IN your strength as is the light
OF dark eye in woman; far along,
From peak to peak, the rafting crags among
Leaps the live thunder notfrom one lone cloud,
But every mountain now has found tongue,
And Jura answers through her misty shroud
Back to the joyous Alps, who call to her aloud y
The rainfall accompanying the storm, was
the heaviest that has ever been known IN
Staunton for the short time it lasted, though
fortunately, but little damage was done in the
city. South of Staunton, for two or three
miles, the rain was still greater, and caused
much damage to fences. bridges, gardens, Dc
Mr. H. P. Dickerson had his garden washed
away and considerable amount of fencing
with two acres of wheat in the shock. TIT
gardens of Capt. Smith, Robert Scott, cora,
and others, living on the Greenville road neal
the city, were considerably damaged. The gar
dens of the Western Lunatic Asylum were
flooded and greatly injured.
The injury done by the lightning was no
considerable, considering the number of time'
it struck. As..far as we are informed, II only
struck one place in the city-that was the stee
pie of the Baptist church. 1t did not 90 any
serious injury. The spire of the steeple is GOV
cred with tin, and no injury was done until th'
fluid reached the woodwork below the tin
when it shattered the lattice of the windows
and passing down bored holes through the cell
| ing OF the vestibule like those made by rin'
| shot, and no farther trace of it could be dlscoV
| cred. The damage done can be repaired 10
| twenty-five or thirty dollars.
| A shock of wheat on the farm OF Mr.. Alex
Hartman was struck and destroyed. as was on
| on the farm of Col. Bell.
| DIR. H, 8. Hogshead was sheltering himsel
| under some small trees about a mile iron
Staunton, on the Greenville road when strok
| of lightning knocked his horse down, cutting
| the bride rein from the bit and severely shock
ing him. He even felt some pain from tn
shock, on the next day, in the back of his necl
and shoulders. 1t was certainly very mar
row escape.
| We have heard of a number of trees bein
| struck, and in one instance, on the farm @
Capt. Lewis Hartman it struck and shlvered
wild cherry tree, which was standing in hol
| low and surrounded by other trees much tale
| than it. We mention this as an instance con
| trary to the general belief, that the lightning
always strikes the most prominent object in tn
| landscape.
| The storm was fortunately not very exten
sive, and lasted only short while, or else grea
damage would have been done to our farmers