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Jenks's Portland Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
On July 4, Providence and vicinity experienced a severe thunderstorm around 4 p.m., with lightning striking a store owned by Samuel Nightingale and heirs of Col. Joseph Nightingale, igniting a fire that destroyed it despite rescue efforts; some goods saved. Mr. Samuel Aborn's house was struck but only a hayloft burned and trees damaged, amid torrential rain, high wind, and hail.
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PROVIDENCE, JULY 4.
On Saturday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, this town and its vicinity experienced a severe thunder storm: the clouds were highly charged with electric fluid, which fell in various directions. A large store at South end, the property of Samuel Nightingale, Esq. and the heirs of the late Col. Joseph Nightingale, was struck—it contained among other goods, a few tons of hemp, and was almost instantly in a blaze. Great exertions were made to preserve it, but they proved unavailing. A quantity of India goods belonging to Messrs. Gibbs and Channing, of Newport, and some other articles, were fortunately preserved from the flames—The heat was so excessive, that the building could not be approached with fire hooks, and this circumstance contributed to endanger some adjacent buildings, which were saved by persevering exertion. The house of Mr. Samuel Aborn, jun. on the West side of the river, was also struck, but did not receive any material injury, one hayloft was burnt, and several trees injured. The rain fell in torrents, accompanied by high wind and some large hail stones.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Providence
Event Date
July 4, Saturday Afternoon About 4 O'clock
Key Persons
Outcome
store destroyed by fire, quantity of india goods and other articles preserved; adjacent buildings endangered but saved; one hayloft burnt and several trees injured at aborn's house; no human casualties mentioned.
Event Details
Severe thunderstorm with lightning struck a large store at South end containing hemp and other goods, causing it to blaze instantly; exertions to save it failed due to excessive heat preventing use of fire hooks. Lightning also struck Mr. Samuel Aborn's house on West side of river, burning one hayloft and injuring trees, but no material injury otherwise. Torrential rain, high wind, and large hail stones accompanied the storm.