ELFXTRrCITY. 32 L 



about as large as common fence-rails, wliich formed a circle around the stump 180 

 feet in diameter. One of these rails is 30 feet long, another 27, and most of 

 the others about 12 feet long. There were a great number of splinters, three 

 or four feet long, cast outside the circle. 



[The remarkable energy exhibited in this case, as in others of a similar char- 

 acter, is probably due to the sudden conversion of the sap into highly elastic 

 vapor. — J. H.] 



From G. Wright, Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois, December 5, 1867. 



As I always watch the approach of storms with great interest, I was, in this 

 instance, well repaid for my trouble. The heavy mass of clouds in the south- 

 west gradually raised, so that the lower edge was distinctly marked upon the 

 falling rain, as is usual in sudden storms. But I observed to those near me that 

 I never before saw the line so clearly defined and so regular ; but suddenly a 

 large mass began to protrude from the rounded outline and approach the earth 

 in the form of a cone, with the apjex towards the earth. As we live on the lino 

 of the great tornado, some of my family apprehended the cloud was taking the 

 fearful shape, but as it rapidly approached the earth a vivid flash darted from 

 the lower point, which was still rounded, and the whole mass was quicklv drawn 

 up into line again. This was repeated as the shower approached, until the cone 

 descended from the same part of the cloud three times, and then, as it began to 

 rain where we were, the outline of the cloud was lost to view. I cannot describe 

 to you the sensation which I felt as the great mass of dark clouds fell with 

 increasing velocity toward the earth, but it was much like that which one 

 experiences in rolling a large stone from the edge of a precipice. The display 

 was so grand that it will never be forgotten by those who saw it. 



[An account of a precisely similar phenomenon is given in a letter to Dr. 

 Hare, from Z. Allen, of Providence, published in the Transactions of the American 

 Philosophical Society. The facts are interesting in relation to the connection 

 of electricity with tornadoes, of which the descending cone was probably an 

 incipient one. — J. H.] 



From Charles C. Boerner, Vevay, Indiana, May 26, 1868. 



May 26, lip. m., to 27th, 1 a. m. — Thunder-storm of uncommon violence 

 from the southeast 5 wind from the same direction. It was preceded by a strong 

 gale of 15 minutes' duration ; lightning zigzag. The storm raged for 30 min- 

 utes, after which it somewhat abated, and apparently passed away, when sud- 

 denly, at 12 o'clock, a heavy discharge of electricit}^, accompanied by a terrific 

 explosion, seemed to startle all nature. In the morning I ascertained that it 

 struck near the market-place; the object was a rack placed there for the hitching 

 of horses. The rack is about 40 feet long, and upon posts (locust) three feet 

 from the ground ; on the top rail are 25 iron rings, fastened with staples, and the 

 rails themselves fastened to the posts with heavy iron clamps. This top rail 

 v,"as entirely thrown off, and the posts shattered into splinters ; some of them 

 were scattered in different directions more than 75 feet. The most remarkable 

 fact is that the place is surrounded by high buildings, all of which escaped 

 destruction. Northwest, 75 feet from the place struck, stands a brick building, 

 covered with metallic roof, 75 feet high ; southward the open market-place ; 

 southeast the market-house, 40 feet high ; and northeast, at a distance of 125 

 feet, a row of two-story brick buildings. None of these are supplied with 

 lightning conductors. 



[Electricity, in its discharge from the clouds to the earth, frequently appears 

 very capricious; but in all cases the discharge is, as it were, prcdetennined by the 

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