The Enquirer

Lyncenburg, March 25.

PHENOMENON.

About two miles from Campbell Court House near Alexanders old field, are to be seen the traces of a most tremendous stroke of lightning. It probably took place in the time of the thunderings, which occurred last January. A chestnut of considerable size was thrown out by the root, and the whole tree, root and branch, burst into ten thousand pieces. Three knotty clamps all of which taken collectively might be easily carried on the shoulder of a man of ordinary size excepted, the whole mass is divided into such perfect splinters, that very few can be found, in which there remain together two strata or layers of the grain of the wood—as small as are these fragments, yet so violently were they driven by the explosion, that they are scattered in every direction and almost cover half an acre of surface. The most remote points at which they are now observable, are about one hundred and forty yards distance asunder. The spot of earth on which the tree stood, is torn up and laid open to a wonderful extent, but so entirely is every vestige of the tree itself removed that were it not for the splintered wood surrounding the place it would be supposed a rock of some size had been awkwardly dug up by an inexperienced laborer.

A devout mind, on contemplating the scene, is necessarily excited to the most profound emotions of gratitude towards that GRACIOUS GOD who rules the elements, in that this awful shock was not directed to one of the habitations of men.