The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-09-02
Lightning Photographs.

Lightning Photographs.
In the New York Observer recently
was all account of a young lad on whose
breast Balm-of- Gilead tree was dis
tinctly photographed by a flash of
lightning which struck the house where
he was and the occurrence seemed SO
singular that it is not surprising the
editors wrote to make sure of the fact
before giving it notice. The Observer
says:
Such Lightning marks are very un-
common. But still we have many re-
corded instances of their occurrence.
In 1856, Messrs. Bossut and Leroy re-
ported to the French Academy of
Science case of this kind, which they
endeavored to account for by supposing
the lightning in its passage through the
body had forced the blood into the ves-
sells of the skin, so that the ramifca-
lions OF these vessels were visible. And
at later date, Arago adopted the
same explanation in regard to two per-
sons who were struck by lightning near
poplar tree, the branches of which
seemed marked on their breasts, though
in both cases strong doubt was thrown
on their theory, from the fact that the
pictures on the skin so perfectly resem-
bled trees rather than the branching of
the veins.
In 1912, in village in Somersetshire.
England, six sheep were killed by light
nlng and on the skin of each, says
Chambers Journal, was found a very
accurate description of the tree under
which the animals had taken refuge.
At later date, Signor Orioli brought
before scientific congress at Naples
four cases of lightning birthstone of a
sailor who was struck dead on board
his vessel and ON whose back was the
distinct impression of the horseshoe
that was fixed at the head of the FORE
mast which was struck; the second of
sailor, in somewhat similar position,
who was struck by lightning, and on
whose breast was the number A, an
almost exact representative of num-
Der A at the end of one of the masts:
the third, of a young man who had on
a girdle with several gold coins in il.
the images OF which were imprinted by
the lightning on his skin in the order
they occupied in the girdle; and the
fourth, of an Italian lady who was sit
ting near window where there were
flowers, the image of which was per-
tectly reproduced or printed on her leg,
where it remained permanently.
In the West Indies, in 1858, a little
girl. standing at window near a maple
tree, being struck by lightning, had an
image OF tree imprinted on her body;
and in another case, boy climbing a
tree to steel birds nest had on his
breast an image of the tree, with the
nest on one Of its branches, made by
the lightning which struck him. DR..
Franklin tells us of similar case in
1856; and Mr.. Posy, in one of the
French scientific journals, mentions
twenty-four well-authenticated cases of
lightning impressions on the bodies of
men and animals. Eight of these were
impressions OF trees, one of u bird, one
OF COW, four OF crosses, three of cir
cies or of coins carried about on the
person, two of horse shoes, one of \
nail, one of metal comb and one of an |
arm chair.
But one case more would mention. |
and that known to the writer, and oc- |
curing in Hartford, Conn, some sixty |
years ago. A Mr.. Isham, respectable
merchant of that place, was walking in
the street, when a sudden and violent
thunder shower came up. The light
ming struck house, the flash coming
from the east of large oak tree, on the
west of which Mr.. Isham was walking
and on the west of which, still further
on, was the house that was struck. The
Hash threw Mr.. Isham to the ground,
and when taken up he was at first
thought to be dead. But after time
as they dashed cold water over him, he
revived, and lived afterwards in good
health for several years. But as the eff
feet OF the lightning, perfect image of
the oak tree was found photographed
Oh his breast, but reversed, as in the
case Of the lad mentioned in the paper.
md as in the ordinary negatives of the
photograph: The copy of the tree
seemed perfect, looking very much as
t made with bluish-black India ink. IL
vas seen by large numbers of persons.
,ut how long it remained is not remem-
Jered.
Since that time the writer has seen
wo accounts of similar occurrences
me in Georgia, where the tree i'm
printed on the person struck was an
'ak; and the other in North Carolina.
which case the tree was a pine.
Who can satisfactorily explain such
hitherto unexplained occurrences2