Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-01
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
Several Members of a Family Knocked
Eenseless

SODSOAOhHs
From the M'Minnville New Era, July 81.
Mr.. Thomas Walker, who lives mile and
half from town on the Sparta road in q
small fIsmed building an upstairs forming
kind Of attic chamber, all unceiled inside,
with an enclosed brick chimney to the
southwest, was visited by the subtle element
of the clouds, about O'Clock last Sunday
evening during thunder storm, proving
disastrous to the house, and nearly fatal to
several of the family. There were present
at the time himself, wife, two daughters,
Margaret and Bel, and grand child in the
arms of Margaret. One stream Of the fluid
Qor there seems to have been tWo) passed
down the chimney, carrying the stem en-
tirely away to the attic floor, cracking the
main body bscly on all sides to the first
floor, knocking the back Of the
fire place entirely out, and passing
into the ground. The second stream
struck the top of the house, rupturing a
small hole in the roof three or four feet
from the comb at the fourth rafter from the
chimney, just where stay reaching to the
opposing rafter was fastened with six or
eight nails. 1t here scooped out cup like
place in the side of the rafJer opposite
where the nails were driven, then ran CEN
trally down the same side, tearing half
inch groove to the ewes, bulging the roof
and frscturiDg q joist Immediately over the
window where Mrs. Walker was sitting be-
low. It mysteriously passed to and rent
the studding by the side of the window
and broke il in two foot or so above her
head, shivered locking glass hanging here,
in trdlSitu to the Iext stud or scantlirg to-
ward the door, shlyered this into pieces,
throwing off the Notwithstanding
between the window aud door and
passed into the ground. Mrs. Walker was
sent, to all seeming, lifelsss to the floor, her
head scraping upon it, and also struck by
The falling brick. Her daughter, Margaret,
sitting near her toward the fireplace, you
may say right between two streaks of light
Ling, almost in armsength of either, was
stunned perfectly timber and s9nseless in
her seat, her arms and head hanging from
her chair as if dead, and the baby, an alb
sent sisters child, clinging to her bosom
and screaming for life, but unhurt. Mr..
Walker was sitting at the farther end of the
room, opposite the fire place, reading his
Bible. lie was startled, be sa-s, By . can
non going off st each of his ears, and the
atmosphere turning TO liquid fire. He was,
however, at himself in a moment ami
comprehended tie situation. He
secured the child, laid bis daughter Marga-
ret by tie side Of bis wife on the floor and
spplisd water freely. It was row raining
heavily. In the meantime he bethought
himself Of his daughter Bell, whom he
found had jumped out Of the window up
stairs upon a shed room, dEenched in the
rain aud awaiting further developments.
at the terrible moment she was sitting
upon a bed, eight or ten feet from the ILL.,
fated chimney; she had mt seen the fash,
nor heard the thunder; did not know il had
lightened, and was even unconscious of
having been shocked. The first her senses
revealed TO her was the floating dust
and sOot, and a vague idea that tie
house was on fire. Mr.. Walker soon
procured assistance from fmily
livi. G on bis premises close by. DR.. Arm.
strong directly arrived and after the lapse
of about an hour the two were brought to
consciousness. The returning signs of
life were accompanied by severe vomiting
and soreness. They asked for an explana-
ton of affairs, which was given. We are
glad to announce that at latest adVices all |
were rapidly recovering, and no serious
consequences apprehended.
Mr.. Walker is several years here from
Pennsylvania; is one of cur substantial |
citizens and best practical farmers. We |
are glad that no more serious consequences |
have resulted to him and his family, and |
that the house he was occupying was |
merely for temsorsry use, and net the |
Dig house he intends to build.