92 Efft^^^ of JJghtning upon a Dwelling Houfe, 



of thunder. Soon after tlie rain began to fall, the wind veeiM 

 to the north, and brought over a very thick cloud, which 

 had been colle(3:cd in that quarter. The rain now came in 

 torrents, mingled with hail and fire. 



A few minutes after 2 o*clock, a difcharge of Hghtning 

 flruck a ihip at the Long Wharf, which fhivered one of the ' 

 mails to pieces. Another difcharge flruck the houfe of Jona- 



n I 



than Mafon, Efq. in Marlborough flreet, and as the effetfls are 

 fomewhat curious, I beg leave to relate them. The houfe is 

 of brick, three flories high, facing the flreet to the wefl, with 

 a new end of wood at the north. It is furnifhed with a good 

 conductor, faflened to a cliimney, and pafTmg down the north 



end by the brick wall. The whole charge of lightning pafTed 

 down the condu(5lor, without any injury, except loofening two 

 or three of the iron ftaples, with which the condutflor was 

 faflened, until it came to about i o feet from the ground. The 

 charge then divided in the following manner : A part pafTed 

 down the condudor, fplitting upon the fmall trunk or box, 

 which enclofed it, near the ground ; but as the iearth was 

 not fufficiently wet to carry off the charge, there was anex- 

 ploflon, vvhich burfl through the cellar wall. The cellar door, 

 which was fliut, was very near the place where the lightning 

 burfl through the wall. The iron ring of this door attradled 

 a part, or the whole of tht lightning, which entered the cellar 

 at this place, and by the nails ient it out again into the open 

 air, ripping off the wood on the outfide of the door, where the 

 nails were clinched. 



We 



