Fatal effeBs of Lightning. 



of wMch flood on tlie ground, and the other refled on the 

 c eliar wall. 



- The fharp end of the fpit, which refled on the wall, was 

 melted f and diredlly over the fpit, there was a fmall breach 

 in the floor of the room. 



If the charge was from the earth, the fpit condudled it in 

 fafety, as far as it reached ; and as the elecflrical fluid is al- 

 ways condenfed, and adls with mofl force, at going off, or en- 

 tering the Iharp point of a condu(5lor ; it melted the end of 



, E 



the fpit, as now defcribed. The charge then took the nearefl 

 good condudling matter, which happened to be the unfortunate 



child, fitting on th.e floor, directly over the fpit. In pafUng 



4 



through the floor, it is probable the fluid diverged ; the great- 

 efl part pafTed through the child, and produced inftant deatli. 

 A fmaller portion took Mr. . Henderfon's arm, and burned it ; 

 the "whole then took the iron hinges, and hooks of the win- 

 dow, and the lead in wEiich the glafs was fet, and fo pafTed 

 away without leaving any other marks of its progrefs, except 

 throwing a few bricks from the chimney ; or, if the charge 

 was from the cloudy the effecfls and appearances would proba- 

 Bly have been the fame. This accident ihows the danger of 

 placing ourfelves in the courfe, between different portions of 

 conducing ntkttcr, in the time of a thunder fhower. 



' The iron fpit, flanding by the wall, in tlie cellar, and the 

 lead and iron work of the window, were good conduaors. 



The explofion, whether from the ground, or from the cloud, 



found 



