Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-09-29
DEATH pY LIoMrNINa.-Rey. n. G. Hove,

I DEATH DY LIGHTNING.-Rev. II. c. Hovey
communicates the following to the American
journal of Science for August
A thunder storm passed over Kansas City
Mo, on the afternoon Of Sunday, June 18th
1873, the results OF which, SO far as a single
stroke OF lightning is concerned, the writer has
| taken pains to verify by personal examination
and the testimony of eye Witnesses.
When the storm arose, number of persons
were walking on the broad platform of the am
Phltheater, In the fairgrounds adjacent to the
city. The promenaders, either in Ignorance, or
negligence, OF the laws governing the passage of
electrical currents, sought refuge from the rain
underneath the leafy branches Of some oak trees
which Shade the locality. Under the tsllest of
these oaks, fifteen feet from the point where Its
trunk passes through the platform, aId within
three or four feet from the overhanging boughs,
stood Miss Nora Ritenour and a young gentle
man who had accompanied her to the grounds.
An electrical discharge sought them out, on its
way from the clouds to the earth. She was
Killed and he was crippled; while the shock was
impact, Jarring buildings, and benumbing and
Frustrating human beings, so as TO prevent spec
tators for few moments from coming to the
aid OF the chief sufferers. When they did so,
they found to their horror, that the body of the
young lady was actually undergoing combus-
flames by pailfuls Of water. On inspecting the
remains 1t was found that the first point Of con-
tact Was the chin, where red mark was left as
If by violent blow. The rest of the head showed
no external injury except that the hair was
6urnt to crisp. From the chin the electrical
mud sought the body, breaking the neck, and
burning the breast and abdomen through and
through. Its exit was by the right foot, leaving
only well marked groove along the limb; but
tearing the shoe into shreds. Death must have |
peen IL stantaneous; and was probably void of |
nsibls pain, If one might Judge from the placid
features, and the natural and agreeable express |
sion of the eyes.
IL seems as il the stroke must first have tray- |
ersed the adjacent oak, but the most careful ex- |
ANIMATION discovered no disturbance of its |
branches, OF INJURY done to its sturdy trunk |
On leaving the body of Miss Ritenour, the en- |
tire discharge passed through the plank on |
which she stood, piercing IL like a musket ball.
the vi per side OF the perioration being smooth
ly depressed, while underneath it was Jagged
and enlarged. From the plank the bolt ieaped
two feet to beam, along which its path was
divided; being marked by fissure leading In sp-
posite directions to the two posts by which tile
beam was supported. These posts were of
white pine, thoroughly seasoned, and about one
foot in diameter. One was merely split from
top to bottom, while the other was utterly splin-
tered. To this latter piece of timber boards
mad been nailed; and to each nail head, In pas
sing, the electrical fluid paid most discriminate
ing attention, splitting the boards as If with the
edge Of an axe. The ground at the foot of these
posts was not visibly disturbed. No traces of
hre were to be seen on the dry, inflammable
pine wood, although the living object on which
this memorable thunderbolt concentrated all its
fury, was so feariully burned.