Four-and-a-Half Months’ Stay in New Harmony
Description of the region – Natural history – Messrs. Say, Lesueur, and Owen – Hunting excursions in Indiana and Illinois – Wabash, Fox River – Illinois prairies – Albion – Black River – Mr. Bodmer’s trip to New Orleans
December 14, 1832
Early in the morning, before daybreak, from about six to seven o’clock, a violent thunderstorm. Thunder and lightning very violent. The thunder was so powerful that the windows continually rattled, and a lightning bolt was so powerful that it looked like a giant mass of fire, or fireball, of blinding brightness, whereby a thunderclap like a violent cannon shot was completely united with it. During this thunderstorm, which lasted until after seven o’clock, or until daybreak, the thermometer stood at 2°R [36.5°F, 2.5°C]. Heavy rain poured from the sky. At seven thirty, 2°R [36.5°F, 2.5°C]. After ten o’clock, better weather. Very wet and muddy. At twelve o’clock, temperature of 5°R [43.3°F, 6.3°C]. We worked at home and, with the description and preparation of our collected specimens and Mr. Bodmer with his drawings, had quite enough to do.
Visit that afternoon at the home of Mr. Say. Near Mr. Say’s garden house we examined a fruit tree that had been struck by lightning that morning, something that is said to occur here very rarely at this time of year. The bark on a sturdy branch at the top of the tree had split; underneath, several feet above the earth, [there were] a few more deep, large fissures. Here the lightning, which must have split into at least four bolts, had gone into the earth and struck off the bark. Visit at the home of Mr. Lesueur in the afternoon and of Mr. Say at seven o’clock.