The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-08-19
ELECTRIC DEATH.

A Startling Record for the Season of 1875.
Not alone in the accounts of tornadoes
which have entailed immense loss both
III city and rural district, nor in the
summary of devastation by floods, nor
In the estimates of damage to the crops
from weeks of, unpropitous weather in
the record OF the remarkable summer
not yet ended complete, there is death
roll attached to the list of disasters
which is without parallel In the history
of the country, the number of those
killed by lightning being far greater
than IS generally supposed. The diff
Guilty OF obtaining complete statistics on
this subject is great from the wide ex-
tent of territory over which the acct
dents occur, and the fact that many are
never reported to the news centers by
telegraph; but that the storms of this
summer have been especially dangerous
Is evident even through the occasional
accounts which have been received.
The following incidents will convey
some idea of the manner in which light
ming kills or Injuries people when it
wants to:
MISCELLANEOUS LIST.
Accidents from lightning appear to
have been more numerous In Iowa than
elsewhere during the season, several
people having been killed in this State
and others severely injured. On the
18th of June one S. j. Smith, living near
Webster City. was the first victim of the
series of storms beginning about that
time. While pursuing his ordinary avo-
cations he was struck by lightning and
killed instantly. No particulars of the
manner In which the electric fluid affect
ed the body were gwen to the newspa-
pers. The storm of the 18th Of June
which came Immediately after this Iowa
accident was one especially remarkable
from the amount of electricity in the air
and the death-rou of victims of lightning
then received several accessions. Not
In one State alone. but wherever the ter
r1ble storm prevailed there were acct
dents. Near Nashville, Tenn, one John
Mills vas instantly killed and two others
were severely stunned. On the sue
aceeding day four others were struck
down In Nashville, though none were
killed. On the 10th, also, during the
storm at Milford, o., child of L. B.
Estum was killed, and two daughters of
E. Edwards were severely burned by a
stroke of lightning. Other accidents,
none Of them fatal, were reported from
various quarters. On June 18, while q
heavy rain storm was passing over Wy
andotte, Kan, sudden terrific flash of
lightning occurred, and the discharge
entered a house where Mrs. Bradish
was engaged in nursing her babe. The
infant at its mothers breast was killed
by the shock, and the mother herself SO
injured that her life was despaired of.
Whether or not the woman eventually
recovered does not appear. Soon after
5his sad occurrence a series of similar
accidents took place elsewhere. In
Wake county, North Carolina, a woman
at her work was killed by lightning, and
In the same county, within two weeks of
this affair, a young lady, one Miss Butt,
made a second victim. She was sitting
near window, which was closed. The
lightning came down the chimney, and
passing around the room, fell upon her
killing her instantly. She was Is years
of age. Only a few days later, while a
party OF fifteen men were engaged In
running a threshing machine near AL
pharetta. Ga, q heavy cloud and rain
came UP, and bolt Of lightning struck
in the midst of the crowd, killing three
men outright and iniuring to some ex-
tent the entire party. Two of the men
were brothers, and were standing one
on each side of their father when killed.
the father nniraculously escaping unhurt.
Near Florence, S. c., colored woman
and two dogs were also killed by light
ming at about the same time. They had
taken refuge from the storm under
tree. Soon afterwards, during storm
near Cascade, In Pittsylvania county,
Va, Mr. Abrau Talbot and others took
shelter IN q stable, which was struck by
lightning. Mr.. Talbot was instantly