The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Register

THUNDER GUST.—Yesterday afternoon, this city was visited by one of the most tremendous thunder storms we have ever witnessed.—The cloud rose from the north west, and was slow in its progress. It commenced raining about one o'clock, and by two, it poured in torrents, intermingled with a violent storm of hail, and accompanied by a heavy wind. It was a sublime and awful moment. The flashes of lightning were frequent and vivid, and the peals of thunder tremendous. Every person must have been struck with the grandeur of the scene. The city trembled to its foundations, as the bolts fell thick among its spires and turrets.—To increase the terror of the moment, the lightning struck, and set on fire the stores of Messrs. Goodhue & Co, and Messrs. Hoyt and Tom, in South-street. The bells rung, and the fire engines rattled along the streets amidst the severest part of the storm. No material damage was done. The lightning struck the chimney, one side of which it broke down, thence descended to the roof, where it tore off the slate and took a course to the interior of the store—In the upper lofts was a quantity of Manilla hemp, which was set on fire, but the flames were immediately discovered and extinguished. We understand, that a lad in the store had the presence of mind to seize the first bundle of hemp kindled by the flash, and to throw it down the scuttle, by which the progress of the flames was prevented. The soot was driven down the chimney and scattered over the counting room, which was filled with a sulphureous smell. Several persons in the neighbourhood were stunned by the shock, and a young man in a store in the rear on Front-street, was knocked down.—Two cart-horses, standing in front of the store, were also knocked down. The direction of the lightning from the lofts, could not be traced.

About 10 feet of the roof of one of the stores was consumed. The lightning also struck the house of Mr. Janeway, in Chatham-street, and several other buildings in the city. Part of the railing and frame work on the rampart of Castle Garden was carried away by the wind: and several of the awnings in front of the stores in Broadway were slit into tatters by the hail, the shop keepers having neglected to furl their canvass, like the prudent mariner, at the approach of the storm. We have not learned that any injury was done to the shipping in the harbour.

The rain continued to a late hour last evening and an immense volume fell during the day. A gentleman informed us, that at the foot of Maidenlane the water descended in torrents sufficient to carry a boat, and the street might have been navigated: Many cellars were flooded, and much damage done to goods. In all the low parts of the city, the cellars were filled.

[Statesman.]