The Virginia Gazette

HARTFORD (Connecticut) June 15.

Yesterday, just as divine service was concluded in the afternoon, came up a storm of rain, attended with thunder and lightning; which struck the steeple of the North meeting house in this town, shattered all the top works to pieces, carried away the weathercock, spindle, and sundry of the large timbers. At the bottom of the spindle it divided, a branch of the lightning ran down one of the main posts of the steeple, and split it from top to bottom; Another branch ran across the fore part of the steeple, and then turned down by the meeting house, shattering the glass, clapboards, and every thing that came in its way, until near the ground, where it turned short, entered the house, wounded one or two persons, and killed a young woman almost outright. As the consternation among the people was very great, every one apprehending the house to be on fire, or ready to fall upon them, great numbers ran to the doors and windows, to make their escape: In this hurry and confusion, one woman had her ankle badly broke, and some others lightly hurt: but as the steeple was not yet on fire, no other mischief ensued. "The explosion, when it struck, seemed very much like the report of a heavy cannon, only more sharp. In the midst of this awful calamity the goodness of God was very remarkably seen: No one, that knew what numbers of people were in the house, would have expected that so many could have escaped unhurt. Had the shock happened at any other time, many more would have been exposed, as that part of the meeting house where the lightning entered was fuller of people than common. As the congregation was dismissed, all were crowding to the doors, and the steeple filled with people, waiting for an opportunity to go home when the rain abated; but as there appeared to be no probability of its abating quickly, they were desired every one to return to their seats, and join in singing a psalm to the praise of Almighty God. This cleared the steeple of people, and doubtless proved the means of preserving many."