The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-15
LIGHTyING'S LONG LEAP.
Two and One-HAif MiIes Across Clear SKY 10
Swat Mr.. Smiths barn.
From tic Leriston Erenino journal

From Tie Leriston Erenino journal
SOUTH SMIrHFIELD, Me. July "A singular
phenomenon was witnessed by a party of WateR
vile people yesterday forenoon while on tho
way to East Pond. Over the north Of Rom.
and across Smithfeld q thunderstorm was in
progress. In that section where the party ives
at the time the phenomenon occurred, the sun
was shining brightly and the southern edge II
the rain belt was afterward determined ~
three and a half miles away.
The party was Just driving down a hill AID
the country for several miles was stretching
before the party and in plain view. The ram
fell in torrents along the ridge three miles away
and the lightning flashed every few second.
To the eastward are the farm buildings II
Howard Smith, on the ridge across the valley
and in the sunshine at the time. The buildings
are one mile north OF where the party was Tiding.
4 bolt Of lightning was seen TO leave the heavy
bank Of clouds al the top of the hill or ridge
which was being deluged by the storm, anu.
zighagging its course across the clear space
for q distance OF At leas! v and a half miles,
Of what was SUPPOSED at the time TO be- smoke,
but what alterward proved 10 have been noth-
ing but dust, arose and the ladies' and gentlemen
would be destroyed by fire.
The party at once changed its course for ilr
purpose OF gong 10 the assistance oil The faTntI
When the Smith home was reached It was seen
the bolt had torn an irregular course from one
end OF the ridgepole diagonally down the roof
10 the lower corner at the farther end of the
barn. thence to a fence. splitting rails and p0et,,
bouncing over to the well curb and upsettins
that. finally spending itself along the ground
IN the direction of the highway, Mr.. Smith,
damage will amount 10 not more than S.. ana
that will be taken up entirely in replacing
shingles.
4 visit was paid 10 the barn, in which there
were two horses, the rest Of the stock being
In the pasture. The horses were trembling
with fear and when spoken 10 by the owner DID
and II was determined that the horses wefr
,till stunned from the shock and that Their
hearing had been affected. Mr., Smith IH-
hitched both horses and by speaking 10 them
tried to drive them from their stalls, but il was
in vain. the lorses pay Ing no attention 20 hiH;
walked about for a time. Then Mr.. Smith
stepped behind hem some distance and spoke
TO them. The animals AZ once turned around
and Went To him Chickens that were about H."
ward at the time the bolt fell were rendered
unconscious, and for more than an hour. a.
though alone and wandering about. were stan
80 da2sd that they would run against obstacles
in the ard, The trail Of the bolt In the earth
was not wider than two inches and did not
penetrate The ground AT a greater deIth. Mh,n
the bolt arrived AZ the highway IL must have
taken q fight into space. ~ the trail stoDs sud-
gone into the ground.
Mr.. Smith said that AT The time the bolt STRUCK
his barn he was obs1 rving the progress Of the
storm west and north and that the eastern
edge OF the cloud, near the northern sxtr' r'iiy.
seemed TO b, afre with lightning and that 'he
the cloud lar into the clear section ever 'N
seconds.