DEATHS BY LIGHTNING.
A Camp Meeting Scene.
At no time, since our connexion with the Press, has it fallen to our lot, to record an occurrence of such appalling interest, as that which we now hasten to pen.
On Sabbath night last, at about 10 o'clock while religious exercises were going on under the shelter, at Nelson's Camp Ground, seven miles east of this an amiable young lady, MISS. MARY TAYLOR, daughter of the late James P. Taylor, of Carter county, and a young gentleman, JOHN C. MILLER, a Student of Washington College, whose parents reside in Rutherford county, N.C. were struck dead by lightning; so perfectly dead, that no spark of the natural or animal life remained. Meanwhile, DAVID GILLESPIE, another Student, whose parents reside on the Tennessee River, below Kingston, was struck dead, apparently, and it is believed was only saved by the application of cold water in great quantities. While MISS ELIZABETH HOSS, of this county, was equally paralyzed, and yet, together with Mr. Gillespie, is not regarded as out of danger. Besides these, there were some five gentlemen, and four ladies, in the same camp - the camp occupied by James H. Jones, of this place, most of whom were struck to the ground, and for a time at least were wholly unconscious of what had occurred. In the camp occupied by the Preachers, adjoining Mr. Jone's on the North, were two Clergymen, and three other gentlemen, who were severely shocked, and some of them even prostrated. In the camp occupied by Mr. Piper's family, on the South, there were five gentlemen and four ladies, three of whom fell to the ground, while the rest were sensibly affected. The reader will bear in mind, that these are half-faced camps, all three under one roof almost directly in the rear of the pulpit, seperated, the one from the other by thin plank partitions - some 20, 30, and 40 feet from the pulpit.
There were supposed to be some five or six hundred persons under the shelter, most of whom were engaged in the exercises, then going on, while others, perhaps, had taken shelter form the rain. Nearly the entire assembly felt sensibly the shock and so very much so indeed, that no sooner had the report of the thunder-stroke died away in the distance, than one long, loud, continued scream, was heard in every direction. Perhaps a scene of more thrilling interest, wringled with such gloom and terror, was never witnessed in this section of country!
In the cases of Miss Taylor and Mr. Miller, who exhibited no signs of life, but were killed dead, the electric fluid, seems to have entered the camp near the roof, and to have continued down an oak scantling, constituting the door post, slightly shivering the post, till it reached her head, where its traces cease to be visible. She was leaning against this post of the door - Miller stood facing her, with his left shoulder against the other post - and Gillespie between them, himself and Miller having their arms around each others waists - Gillespie's arm touching Miss Taylor's shoulder. In this position Gillespie and Miller fell backward in the camp; and when an attempt was made to seperate them, it was not without difficulty, and even a second trial. Miss Hoss was sitting on the end of a trunk near Miss Taylor, and tumbled over between the trunk and the wall.
There is something very remarkable in the fact, that no traces of the effects of the fluid are to be seen on the roof of the camp, or on the side where it is supposed to have entered. Equally singular is the fact, that at this front door, and within less than six feet of the post affected, is a tall oak not in the least sorled. All around are tall trees, and in ____ stands the shed, whose roof is as high again as the camp. The encampment itself, is on a small creek, in a flat country, or rather in low grounds - decorated by the most beautiful grove of timbers to be seen in this section of country.
Indeed the phenomona of this thunder gust opens a new field for investigation, upon which electricians may enter with avidity. There were, in tolerably close succession, three diferent explosions, and the last one, which proved so fatal, was decidedly the least terrific. The rain was pouring down, and the flashes of lightning were seen playing in every direction, and even through the doors of different camps. There were a circle of fires, affording all together much heat, and from which the smoke was assending in quantities. No small quantity of heat arose from the number of human bodies on the ground. Beside this, there was a great deal of metal, on the tables, and around the fires. Now, electrified clouds passing over these, would, we concieve, very naturally impart to them a portion of their electricity, which would be rendered evident to the senses by sparks being emitted, and streaks of lighning darting to and fro. And many no the deafning sounds, or reqpercussions of the air so violently agitated among these dense clouds of smoke and heat, which were so alarming on this occasion, have been caused solely by the lightning or electric flash?
But we are disposed to regard this, as emphatically a work of Providence, and a strange work at that! This is a providence of God, completely shrouded in the mantle of obscurity - aye, wrapt in impenetrable sheets of mystery. This is a strange work of God, well calculated to remind persons on that ground, of their latter end; and one which invites them to set, not only their house, but that which is inexpressibly more needful, their souls in order: that they may be able through all the intermediate thunder gusts of life, to look forward to the seperation of body and soul; without those ALARMING APPREHENSIONS which were manifested by many at Nelson's Camp Ground.
There are a few plain facts, within our knowledge, connected with this singular dispensation of Providence, which, in an unvarnished manner, we will lay before our readers, and then we are done. On the morning of this memorable Sabbath, the Rev. Mr. EKIN, an aged minister, was appointed to preach, which he did, from the words, 'MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.' - His discourse was solemn and impressive, bringing to the view of a large and attentive audience, the subject of death, judgement and eternity. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. KELLY, the stationed preacher from Abingdon, who faithfully warned the people from the words, 'BUT THE THUNDER OF HIS POWER, WHO CAN UNDERSTAND?' This discourse was backed by an able, solemn and impressive one from Mr. PATTON, the Presiding Elder of the District, founded on the words, 'BUT SOW ONCE IN THE END OF THE WORLD, & c.
At night, the Rev. Mr. MILBURN, preached from the words, 'AND THE RAINS DECENDED AND THE FLOODS CAME AND THE WINDS BLEW,; & c., and at the close of this discourse this most alarming storm came up, which resulted as before stated. And it is remarkable, that for three successive years, at night, Mr. Milburn was preaching in the same pulpit, when similar storms arose. At a previous meeting, the congregation were dispersed by a thunder storm, while he was preaching. Previous to that, a sudden appearance of the Aurora Borealis, alarmed many. On this occasion, he finished his discourse, but the alarm was greater than ever, ere the congregation had dispersed.
On this memorable night, a number of men and women, of unimpeachable veracity, had a kind of presentiment of what was coming, and made known to one another their awful feelings. Gentlemen whom we could name, sitting together in camps, actually leaned torward from the wall, clasped their hands, braced themselves up, and prepared for the unknown visitation! Others, whom we could name, left their positions - walked off to avoid some calamity they apprehended, and upon reflection haulted where they were, in the rain!
We are no alarmist - we are no spiritual dreamer - but we have reflected seriously upon these things. We gaze, we ponder. We ponder, we gaze, and think ineffable things! We pry not with Newton's piercing segacity, or launch into his extensive surveys; but we roll an eye of awe and admiration, and can but exclaim, in the language of inspiration, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; - just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints!"
The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, August 10, 1842; Issue 13; col A - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers
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