Lightning strikes the telegraph battery.

July 30. 

See the lightning on the telegraph battery and hear the shock about sundown from our window -- an intensely bright white light.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal. July 30, 1855

See the lightning on the telegraph battery and hear the shock.  See June 27,1852 ("All the phenomena of nature need be seen from the point of view of wonder and awe, like lightning; and, on the other hand, the lightning itself needs to be regarded with serenity, as the most familiar and innocent phenomena are.")