Ce A 
Xx. 4 EFFECTS 
OF LIGHTNING ON SEVERAL PERSONS IN THE HOUSE OF SAM= 
UEL CAREY ESQ. OF CHELSEA, AUGUST 2, 1799 ; 
Ina letter to the Hon. John Davis, Esq. Recording Secretary of the 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 
By JOHN LATHROP, i We Ek. Ac 
eS SS | fe: 
THE morning was clear, the air moving gently from the south- 
west, the thermometer at 75°. About 11 a. m.a thunder cloud ap- 
peared in the : west, spctching, as it Tose, to the northand south. Be- 
tween 12and 1 the cloud se . - One division passed over 
Brooklyn, Roxbury, and poe townrds the sea; but the wind, 
mitt. sa ers it over Boston with heavy ahandexy rain, and 
hail. — 
The thers division of the cloud was carried by the southwest wind 
over Cambridge, Medford, Malden, and Lynn, approaching the sea 
pices ma eee deh ‘in that region, shifting suddenly to- 
the n Bk; rds Chelsea, discharging a plea 
Staens seth Speed flashes “ lightning. 
Mr. Carey, perceiving the approaching storm, called his labours 
ers from the field before ths, rain | began. Three of his men went into 
a cellar, 1 under the r part iy hoaises and were employed in 
removing a q u antity. of potatoes, see! had lain in an arch through 
the winter. While. thus occupied, an explosion took place, which — 
forced one of the men forward to the ground; where he lay apparently 
dead. The other two were forced in opposite directions ; one against 
the wall, and the other against a board partition. 
