Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-07-07

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF SEVERAL PERSONS
FROM DEATH--sINaULAR FREAKS OF THE BURN
ING FLUID-A THRILLING INCIDENT.
ALPINE, Ala, June 19.--About O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, Parson Welch, an old and
highly esteemed citizen Of this (Talladega) coun-
ty, Ala, his son, Daniel Welch, Col VIM, CHS
ty, C. S, A., and Mrs. DR.. German, were sitting
round the stove at Alphine Station, on the Ala
bama and Tennessee River Railroad, in kind of
room Or cutoff about ten feet square, where the
stove is placed. These parties formed kind of
circle or half moon, the horns of which were less
than six feet apart. The CIRCLE commenced with
the Parson, his son next, the Colonel next, and
the lady last. The stove was Immediately in
front of the circle, and within three feet of it.
All were seated except Nathaniel Welch, who
was standing. A fash of lightning came, struck
and descended the stove pipe, burst the raised
foundation upon which the stove was placed, and
passed down through the floor, just where
the right foot of the Parson was placed, carry
ing off the first joint of the big toe and splitting
the foot nearly open to the heel He was also
struck the left shoulder, the electricity pass
ing down the arm, over both hands, which were
crossed upon his chest, and down the right leg
to the already injured part of the foot, leaving
severe burns on the arm, hands, abdomen and
Alphine, was struck on the right hip. The cleo
tricity descended to and came out at the heel,
leaving the limb severely burned. The Colo
nel2s right side, from the foot to the shoulder
was slightly bruised, his eyes somewhat injured,
and his hearing much effected. Tie laGyss hear
ing was also considerably effected, which was ali
the injury she sustained. There was small ne
gro boy standing between the two Welches.-
The destructive element passed over the floor
precisely where he was, leaving Serpentine
black mark for the distance OF ten feet, to COR
ner of the space rallied off for the clerks desk
when it passed into the warehouse, by knocking
off a partition plank; and strange to say, the boy
received no injury, beyond being Frustrated on
the floor. There was a dog under the floor,
which was killed; and a horse standing near the
platform, outside, about fifteen feet off, was
knocked down. A number of gentlemen were
sitting on the benches against the wall Of plank,
just outside of where the injured parties were,
none of whom felt the shock. The clothes OF
the Welches were torn into innumerable frag-
ments, or rags, to see which, without knowing
the contrary, would lead to the universal opinion
that the wearers could not have escaped from
being blown into utter aTnihilation. The par
son had his spectacles in the left pocket of his
pants, in a tin case, which was mashed fiat, and
the glasses broken into very small pieces. His
penknife was in the same pocket. His sons
knife also in his left pocket, and both are SO
charged with magnetism to attract needles
which adhere to them with great tenacity.
The scene which followed may be imagined,
but cannot bn described. The Parson appeared
to be a perfect reck, and the son did not present
much more favorable sight The Colonel (who
is old and experienced soldier) characteristic
ally, or professedly, observed that it was per-
feet representation of that which follows the
bursting of 13-inch she'll in the midst of a
crowd of soldiers.
am pleased, however, to have it in my pow
er to close this somewhat minute and prolix ac-
count of a remarkable escape from death, which
will only interest the friends of the parties con-
cerned, by saying, that all are now doing we'll ;
those so severely injured will NO doubt recover,
and that the deaf are gradually recoveing their
hearing. AN EYE WITNESS.