i 





122 fVet or damp clothes^ good conductors of lightning. 



the residue of the charge, followed down the right leg. The 

 charge entered the wall of the cellar and made a rent there- 

 in. Marks of the lightning were also visible at the north- 

 west angle of the house; where, the ceiling of the kitchen 

 was torn off, a plank split in a well room, and two furrows 

 ploughed in the earth; one of which, passed under a Lom- 

 bardy poplar tree, standing in the door yard. The right 

 sleeve of Mr. Ws shirt and coat, both legs of his pantaloons, 

 and the slocking on his left leg, were torn almost entirely 

 open, and so mutilated several inches in width, as to hang 

 in shreds and threads, appearing as if drawn across a hetch- 

 el- His cpat was seersucker^ (cotton and silk,) and the lin- 

 ih^% striped linen — his shirt was linen — the pantaloons 

 Nankeenet or (linen and cotton,) and the stockings, cotton. 

 One of the quarters of the left shoe was torn off — the sole 

 much mutilated, and a hole perforated in it, as if a large 

 nail had been driven through it. 



Another circumstance important to be noticed, is, that 

 liis clothes were a little ^^et; he having been exposed to the 

 storm in its commencement. 



Mr. W. remained senseless a few minutes, and says that 

 the sensation he experienced while resuscitating, is faintly 

 described by comparing it with that of Gautimozin when 

 stretched upon the burning coals. Indeed the first impres- 

 sion on his mind, which he recollects, was, that he was actu- 

 ally immersed in the "furnace of fire," described In the sa- 

 cred scriptures. His right arm was scorched its whole length 



a spot several inches in diameter on his right hip — spaces 

 on both legs below the knees and on the left foot, and his 

 feet were benumbed for several days- His senses soon re- 

 turned, and after the fiery anguish above named, little pain 

 was felt, and in a fortnight, or three weeks, he was restored 

 to usual health. 



A candle burning at the time of the stroke near the centre 

 of the west room in Mr. W's house was extinguished ; and 

 it was found difficult to relight it. The usual sulphurous 

 smell was noticed. 



On the south and west sides of i\Ir. W's house, were sev- 

 eral Lornbardy poplar trees sixty or^seventy hei high, ris- 

 ing thirty or forty feet above his house, which was one story 

 and an half. One of these trees is not raore than six feet 

 ivorn the spot where the lightning first struck, and yet, nei- 



.^ 



