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with the earth, and is in consequence absolutely useless for 

 the purpose for which it was intended. The iron down-spout 

 through which the conductor passes received the end of a 

 lead gutter, which extended the whole length of the church 

 to the top of a similar iron down-spout built in the wall 

 inside the rectory, and connected with another iron spout 

 outside the wall by a leaden bend pipe. This leaden bend 

 was above the floor of the vestry, and at a distance of 18 

 inches from it, and below the floor, there was a lead gas pipe 

 connected with the large gas meter, which received its 

 supply from a main laid in the street leading to the rectory. 

 There was a small meter under the tower, but no part of 

 the piping connected with it approached the conductor, the 

 spouts, or the lead gutter, within a less distance than 

 3 feet. 



Assuming, then, that the lightning struck the top of the 

 conductor, its course would be through the lead gutter to 

 the iron down-spout in the vestry, and then by a disruptive 

 discharge from the lead bend to the lead gas pipe under the 

 floor of the vestry and through the meter to the street main. 

 The lead gas pipe would be melted and tlie gas ignited, and 

 it is very probable that the disruptive discharge from the 

 lead bend would also ignite any inflammable materials that 

 might be in that corner of the vestry. 



When the discharge arrived at the gas main in the street, 

 part of it would pass down the main in a westerly direction 

 and part up the main to the supply pipe and meter at the 

 rectory. Here a small lead pipe passed from the meter for 

 a short distance along the ceiling of the cellar, and in its 

 course came in contact with an iron water supply pipe ; the 

 discharge melted part of the small lead pipe, ignited the 

 gas, and finally passed off through the water supply pipe 

 into the main in the street. 



I have assumed that the lightning struck the top of the 

 conductor, but I must state that I was unable to discover 



