X 6 NATURAL HISTORY 
On Tuefday, Auguft 2, 1757, between one and two of the 
clock, as James Tillie, Efq; of Pentillie caftle, in Cornwall, with 
his neighbours and fervants, were lying aground in a boat on a fand- 
bank in the river Tamar, not half a mile from his own houfe, 
waitin'? the tide to throw a net for falmon, a fudden clap of Thunder 
broke over their heads. In a field adjoining the grafs feemed on 
fire and the whole field in a flame, and a fire-ball was obierved juft 
to pafs over the hedge at the top of a very fteep wood which hangs 
over the Tamar. The fire-ball fell on the boat ; and pafling from 
the South-Weft in a dire& line from the larboard bow to the ftern, 
Tames Widear, Mr. Tillie’s fervant, in the bow, had a violent blow 
on his right flioulder and head ; Mr. Samble, who fat next to him, 
was ftruck deaf for fome time ; Mr. Tillie fat next in the middle ol 
the boat, and plainly perceived the fire-ball, about five inches diame- 
ter, fomewhat fharp, and pointed in the fore-part, to pats by him at 
about three feet diftancek he was violently ftruck on the back part 
of his head by the current of the air attending the ball ; his eyes 
were fliut, and he leaped from his feat about two or three feet high ; 
and on the return of his fenfes, opening his eyes, was furprized to 
find himfelf {landing ; for before the fhock he was fitting on the 
oar. The riuht fide of his face continued very warm for two hours, 
and the corner of his hat was carried away, as it half of a fmall 
bullet had been fhot through it. Robert Atkins, a fervant of Mr. 
Tillie, was near the ftern, with his face to the South- Weft, but 
not in the diredt line of the fire-ball : he was ftiuck fpeecklefs, 
thrown on his back upon the fifhing-net, remained infenfible for 
two or three hours afterwards, his face was black, as if the prim- 
ing of a gun had been blown by accident over it ; his left eye weak, 
and contracted for a fortnight after ; with a great numbnefs in all his 
limbs, until a brifk circulation of the blood enlued, and then he had 
violent pains, which wore off flowly, leaving him weak and low, 
with complaints of frequent head-ach, but no vifible mark of hurt. 
Mr. Pethen, a tenant of Mr. Tillie, was Handing three feet from 
Atkins, upon the feat of the ftern, with his face to the South 
Weft, and had fcarce done fpeaking when the fire-ball fell on . his 
left temple, and ftruck him dead into the river. He was im- 
mediately taken up by fome of Mr. Tillie’s fervants on the fhore. 
His peruke on fire, and fmoaking in the ftern of the boat, Mr. Lil- 
lie took up and extinguifhed : it had a hole burnt in it as large as 
a crown piece, and fmelt ftrongly of fulphur. His hat was blown 
into the water, rent three or four inches long, the lining only ript. 
His cloaths were but little rent : on his hip theie was a black fear 
about three or four inches long, and difcoloured as if filled with 
» Letter from James Tillie, Efq; to the author. 
eakrag-; 
