New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-27
Attitude of Persons KILLED by Lightning

"That which particularly characterizes the eff
fects of lightning, writes M. Boudin, /" is its sud.
denness. AT one time the individual is killed dead
the spot, remaining in sitting posture or even
on horseback. At another time he is thrown a
long distance.a
The first mention made of this kind of death is
in the history of Alexander. During dreadful
tempestn says Quintus Gnrtius, +" which destroyed
thousand men, some were found supported
against trees, as if still alive and talking to each
other and just in the attitude in which death sur
prised them.i
According to Carbon, as quoted by Riviere, eight
reapers, taking their food under an oak, were
struck by lightning, and died preserving their atti
tude-one Of man eating, another drinking. In
Lorraine woman and one of her children were
killed, and remained in sitting posture. At Do
yer, man killed with four horses was found sitting
under bush. A man of law, at Troyes, was killed
by lightning when on horseback; the animal, still
continuing his Journey, brought home his dead
MASTER retaining the posture of man on horse
back.
On the 18th of July, 1916, at Chateauneuf, three
fire balls fell on the church. Nine persons were
killed and eghty-two wounded. All the dogs found
in the church were killed. and retained the attitude
| which they previously had
| On January %, 1s49 goat was killed near Cler-
mont, and found sitting upon his headquarters with
4 q branch of green leavesin his mouth.
l Now this phenomenon is sometimes equally OBJ
served in persons killed by firearms In the Morn
| ing Herald of November 5, 1854, the following de
tails given of visit to the field of lnkermann
| Immediately after the combat:
| MANY faces still seemed to smile others had {
threatening look; some bodies had funeral pos
as though laid out by friendly hands; others still
knelt upon the ground, convulsiyeIy grasping thei
weapon and biting their cartridges. Many ha'
their arms raised as if endeavoring toward off .
blow OF as if desiring to offer o last prayer All
their faces were pale and the fierce blowing win'
seemed TO animate their dead bodies one woult
have said that these long lines of the dead wer'
about to rise to recommence the struggle.h
Mr. Boudin writes the same thing of the appear
ance of many Of the Russians after the battle Q
fhe Alma: Some seemed still writhing in tht
} ngonies of despair and DEATH but the most wore
look of calm and pious resignation. Some appeared
to have words floating on their lips, and smile a
!. in sort of high heautitude. One was particular,
observed, his knees bent, his hands raised AM
ioined his head thrown back, murmuring his su
, preme prayer AT Magenta again, many dea
bodies, as we are informed by Surgeon Majo
Armand Of the army of Italy, maintained the att
tude they had when struck, passing instantaneoui
ly from life to death without agony convulsioi
Zouave, struck point blank in the chest, still he
his bayonet in the position of the charge. with Il
menacing aspect of dead lion. His Majesty Il
: Emperor is said to have remarkeda a similar case
/ Palestro. Near to the Zouave was an Austria
n dead from hemorrhage. His face and eyes we
! turned to heaven, his hands Joined, and fingers
terlaced, evidently in the attitude of prayer.