Genre:

Regular Feature—Anecdote, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Electricity

    Prints an anecdote told by an 'old Long Island coasting skipper' who recounts that during a particularly turbulent lightning storm 'after a big flash, I felt a curious feeling—a cold chill, like I had swallowed quicksilver, come over me'. He retreats below the deck of his ship, and when the squall passed over 'felt all right except an onaccountable feeling about my feet. I sung out for the cook, who pulled off my boots, and, strange to say, although it is the truth, I turned out of each one nigh on to a pint of the electric fluid'. (977)