The New Hampshire Gazette Domestic News July 9, 1762

We hear from Rhode Island, that last Friday Fortnight, as a Number of Persons were mowing Grass in the Town of Portsmouth on that Island, a Thunder Shower came up, whereupon they betook themselves to a Tree for Shelter, and one of them hung a Scythe on a Limb over his Head: Soon after a Stream of Lightning came down the Tree, took its Course along the Blade of the Scythe, and from thence went off the Point on the Heads of one Mr. Fish, and a Lad named Murphy, and kill'd them both instantaneously. The other Persons that stood under the Tree received no Hurt. We hope some Observations will be made on this Occurrence, and on the Nature and Utility of Electrical Points: In the mean Time it may not be amiss to re-print the following Extract from Mr. B. Franklin's Letters on Electricity.

"As electrical Clouds (says he) pass over the Country, high Hills and high Trees, lofty Towers, Spires, Masts of Ships, Chimneys, &c, as so many Prominences draw the Electrical Fire, and the whole Cloud discharges there; dangerous it is to take shelter under a Tree during a Thunder Gust; it has been fatal to many both Men and Beasts. It is safer to be in the open Field for another Reason: When the Cloaths are wet, if a Flash in its way to the Ground should strike your Head, it would run in the Water over the Surface of your Body, whereas if your Cloaths are dry, it would go thro' your Body. Hence a wet Rat cannot be killed by the exploding electrical Bottle, when a dry Rat may."