The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

WASHINGTON, (KY.) JUNE 7.

Astonishing Preservation.—Last Saturday Mr. Isaac Middleton, of Lewis county, when travelling on foot in the heat of the day, about 4 or 5 miles from this place, was suddenly overtaken by a heavy shower of rain, and took shelter under a hickory tree, near the great road.—Shortly afterwards, the lightning struck the tree about 60 feet above him, where it took off a large limb, and descended down the tree, (taking off the scaly bark, but not penetrating the inner rind of the bark, or following the grain of the wood,) in a straight direction till within a short distance of Mr. Middleton's head, where there was a short abrupt bend in the tree, and pursued a straight line to the top of Mr. M's hat, in entering which, it made a rent of about three-fourths of an inch in length—tore the lining of his hat, his coat, shirt and pantaloons, literally to lint, and let a considerable rent in both shoes. His vest was rent asunder, and one side of each sock reduced to tatters. The ground, we are told, is strewed with the small fragments, or rather lint, of his clothing, for some 30 or 40 feet round the tree: and yet Mr. Middleton is alive and likely to do well. The skin is burnt from a part of one shoulder and of one thigh, and many places scorched. The only clothing he had on when found, was the waistband of his pantaloons, and perhaps, his cravat. The collar, sleeves, and a small part of one side of the body of his coat remained together. One skirt of his coat, (blue cloth,) from near the pockets downwards, is the largest other fragment of clothing we have heard of, and this is in strips, as if drawn through a hatchel. He remained on the ground near the tree for an hour or two before he was discovered. During this interval he had been resuscitated, and swooned away perhaps more than once, but his recollections are not very clear and distinct.