The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-07-27

ThundeEs I'M 3 RiehIaa statloa


Thunders 8Fni RiehIa & StatIoa.
Ms EBF1oR We sge VISITED
by the most terrific thahder-storm
on the evening ofthe 18th inst, ever
witnessed in this vicinity by the
oldest inhabitants. It arose about
u o'clock in the northwest and
passed in asouth-eastern direction.
Dark and threatening in the begin
ming, It soon became grand and
terrific. The flashes of lightning
we're constant and brilliant, while
the crash of the thunder was like
the repeated and rapid firing Of ar
tillery mingled with the rattle of
musketry. On a farm in the vicin-
ity of the station, around the farm
buildings, within a radius of 800
yards, there were eight trees struck
by lightning, and some of them
within 100 yards, and a spot Of cot
ton about so feet square was killed
within the circle. The dogs were
so frightened that they ran bowling
over the yard.
F On the farm mentioned and on
Mrs. Wnkinson's there were some
fifteen trees struck that have been
seen. Along the railroad in this
vicinity the storm was frightful.-
At Aspen Hill a telegraph pole i'm
mediately in front Of the house
(within 80 feet) of Mr.. Hobbs, the
clever Section Boss, was struck
Several other poles were struck be
tween there and DR.. Buffers, dis
lance of about 400. yards. Mrs.
Hobbs was slightly shocked and
negro woman had an arm parsily.zed
By the same bolt. At the same
time our young friend, Tom Reed,
sitting in the door ola store close
by, had presented to his startled
vision more and brighter stars than
I ever he saw at one sight before.
Mr.. Hobbs was on a hand-car re-
turning from the direction of Pu-
laski when the storm overlook him
at Richland Station. About this
time the unclaimed lightning be-
gan to play upon the rails Of the
road, sending towards him huge
balls of FIRE, describing fantastic
curves in their haste to reach him,
and causing such a queer state of
his nerves that he several times
fed from his car TO the adjoining
fields. But in his eagerness to
reach his home he would return
and strike out again. Finally,
however, as he approached the
bridge he saw another huge and
terrible ball come bounding over
the bridge towards him. 1t had
about it such a sulphurous odor as
to give an unpleasant direction to
his thoughts, and caused him again
to abandon his car, without stand
ing upon the order of his going
This time he sought refuge in the
culvert beneath the road bed. It
is true the opening was very small,
hut the wratbfuI thunderbolt in the
rear made that difficulty less insur-
mountaJle. As soon as, in his
trepidation, he got comfortably
wedged in, he repeated ''Now I lay
me down to Sleep &c, and be
came more composed. He could
now take calm view Of the grand
exhibition of the storm king, tho
he was sorely troubled lest one of
the fiery balls he could hear bound
ing on the rails above him would
penetrate 70 his moist retreat
From the small opening before him
he could see numerous terrible
thunderbolts enTeloped IN awful
sheet lightning descending in rapid
succession to the earth and frOlick-
ing over its surface, spreading ter
ror among anumber Of loose horses
that ran screaming with very fright
over the lot. A 18th amendment
ran from the car about fifty yards
and fell upon a rock, but as he was
not killed it is thought the bolts
glanced harmlessly from his head.
AS Far as heard from, the storm
passed on its striking way, deluging
the earth with heavy rain, rapid
| " swelling tile streams and serious
" washing the farms.
July "a, III. RTcHL2ND.