88 Dr. Lathrop’s account of the effects of lightning. 
mantle, where it left a black mark or the paint, it passed down to the 
iron tongs, which were by the side of the fire place. i 
Capt. Barns’ house is joined on the north bya house belonging to 
Capt. Jonathan Merry. A part of the charge took an oak post on the 
top of. this house, which is shivered and split from top to bottom. 
No mark however of the fluid is to be found from this post to the 
lower part of ‘the house. In the kitchen, which is nearly under the 
post above mentioned, there is a pump, which hasan iron handle. 
Persons, who were in’the kitchen at the time, say, there appeared to be 2) 
a stream of fire from the iron pump handle, which passed out at the 
door, then open, and across the passage way, down Mr. Parson’s — 
wharf, into the lower window of the opposite house. On examining — | 
the house, into which the stream of fire appeared to enter, I found — 
several places, where the wood work was shivered by the explosion. F 
The good hand of providence is to be acknowledged in the won | 
derful preservation of so many lives, which appear to have been in im: 
minent danger ; several of whom were struck down, or forced toa — 
considerable distance from the place, where they were standing: © ] 
There were ten persons in the house of Daniel Merry, where the ex- : 
plosion was the most terrible. Mrs. Howard, the daughter of Capt | 
Merry, was in a chamber, where the whole breast work about the fire a 
place was burst off, and a woman struck down with the force. Mrs. - 
Howard was setting on a bed, and felt an extreme pressure and heat 
but received no essential injury. 1 Was On the side of the room, ao 
oPpoitE to where the ‘bell wire pores along ; this circumstance was : i 
_probably much in ‘her favour. ‘She was the same night put to bed : 
witha fine son. Mr. Howard was in the store, and but the moment mA 
before | moved. from his writing desk, which was near the chimneys Tl 
; The fluid pas wn just by the spot, where he was standing mo | 
Tent before ; aad had he not moved, the probainltty is he would have at 
