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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A violent storm struck Elsinor on July 28, with lightning hitting the castle's highest tower around 8 AM, igniting a fire. Efforts to extinguish it failed initially due to the tower's height, leading to cannon fire to collapse the top. Flames spread amid high winds, threatening nearby powder magazines, but rain at 4 PM put out the fire with little damage to the castle.
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We had a violent Storm here the Day before yesterday. The Lightning fell about eight o'Clock in the Morning, upon the highest Tower of the Castle, and it was ten before it was found out. Immediately all the Assistance possible was applied, but to no Purpose, on Account of the Height of the Tower, which was so narrow at the Top that the People could not get at it, even with one Engine. At last, it was resolved to fire at it; accordingly four Balls were fired, which brought down the highest Part. The Flames then came out, on all Sides; and as the Wind was very high, all the Places seemed threatened with imminent Danger. As at a small Distance from the Tower there were about 40,000 lbs. of Powder, a Number of Bombs filled with Powder, and the Magazines of Powder were not far from the Castle, most of the Inhabitants were preparing to leave the Place; but about four o'Clock the Wind ceased, and a very hard Shower of Rain fell, so that they were able to extinguish the Flames, which have not greatly damaged the Castle.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Elsinor
Event Date
The Day Before Yesterday (July 28)
Outcome
flames extinguished by rain; castle not greatly damaged; no casualties reported
Event Details
Lightning struck the highest tower of the castle around 8 AM, starting a fire discovered at 10 AM. Assistance failed due to height and narrow top. Four cannon balls brought down the top, spreading flames amid high winds, threatening nearby 40,000 lbs of powder, bombs, and magazines. Inhabitants prepared to evacuate, but wind ceased and heavy rain at 4 PM allowed extinguishing the fire.