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with the earth, and is in consequence absolutely useless for 
the purpose for which it was intended. The iron down-spout 
through which the conductor passes received the end of a 
lead gutter, which extended the whole length of the church 
to the top of a similar iron down-spout built in the wall 
inside the rectory, and connected with another iron spout 
outside the wall by a leaden bend pipe. This leaden bend 
was above the floor of the vestry, and at a distance of 18 
inches from it, and below the floor, there was a lead gas pipe 
connected with the large gas meter, which received its 
supply from a main laid in the street leading to the rectory. 
There was a small meter under the tower, but no part of 
the piping connected with it approached the conductor, the 
spouts, or the lead gutter, within a less distance than 
3 feet. 
Assuming, then, that the lightning struck the top of the 
conductor, its course would be through the lead gutter to 
the iron down-spout in the vestry, and then by a disruptive 
discharge from the lead bend to the lead gas pipe under the 
floor of the vestry and through the meter to the street main. 
The lead gas pipe would be melted and the gas ignited, and 
it is very probable that the disruptive discharge from the 
lead bend would also ignite any inflammable materials that 
might be in that corner of the vestry. 
When the discharge arrived at the gas main in the street, 
part of it would pass down the main in a westerly direction 
and part up the main to the supply pipe and meter at the 
rectory. Here a small lead pipe passed from the meter for 
a short distance along the ceiling of the cellar, and in its 
course came in contact with an iron water supply pipe ; the 
discharge melted part of the small lead pipe, ignited the 
gas, and finally passed off through the water supply pipe 
into the main in the street. 
I have assumed that the lightning struck the top of the 
conductor, but I must state that I was unable to discover 
