Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-19
LIGHTNING SFATAL WORK
A BOY KILLED WHILE LEANING
ON A FIRE HYDRANT.

His Compsnion Knocked Across the
Sidewalk and Several Persons stunned
The Fatal Fluid Led from the Elec-
trio Light wires-The Force OF the
Shock Widefelt.
James Bonaud, a mulatto boy aboet IS
gears Of age, was killed by lightning about
$3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon while
standing at the corner of BrouRhton and
Lincoln streets, in front OF Goette's I'M
dertRkers warerooms. On the opposite
corner is a mast on which IS an electric
light. The mast is secured by stay wires
extending TO and fastened to wooden posts.
Bonaud was sitting on an iron hydrsnt
2 feet from one of these poles. Next to
him was sitting another colored boy
named Jim.
Heavy black clouds were rolling up In
the wesIllumfned every few minutes with
flashes of lightning. suddenly there came
Il fash and a sharp peal. and scarcely
had the rumbling died away when there
was another more vivid than the nrst.
The bolt ran along the electric light wire
and jumped 70 the stay wires. The
heaviest current followed the wire that
was attached TO the pole by which the
boys were sitting. The bolt ran down the
pole, spintering 1t on both sides i've feet
from the ground, then jumped TO the hre
plug. BOnaud was knocked down and
his companion was sent reoung across
the pavement against the shop. A colored
workman, who was sitting by window
inside the shop, was dazed, but ran out TO
the boys.
Messrs. Frank Goette and }. J. Open
heimer, who were standing on the north
west corner ran across also. Bonaud was
gasping, but did not speak. DR.. W. h.
Elliot, who lives near by, rendered all as
sistance possible, but without avail, as
the boy died In a few minutes. The other
boy was stunned and frightened, but not
seriously injured. He and BOnaud were
sitting SO near that the latter in falling
struck bis companion.
Rain drops began TO fall shortly after,
and the lifeless body was removed 10 his
mothers home on BrOughton street lane,
just back OF the shop.
Coroner Dixon was notified and viewed
the remains, but did not hold an inquest,
deeming II unnecessary. in spite Of the
torrents Of rain large crowd collected
on the corner attracted by the sad acct
dent
The deceased was son of julia Bonaud
q cOlored woman living on Broughtou
street lane, near Lincoln street, and had
only left bis mother few minutes before
be was killed.
NUE. a. - yppCuhtiinSIs WuO lANtS bA
the opposite side OF BroughtOn street, was
stunned, as was also a young lady in the
house on the northeast corner of Brough-
ton and Lincoln streets. A young lady al
AbercOrn and President streets was
shocked. A man who WAS driving along
BrOughtOn street was blinded for a mo-
ment, and was almost knocked down.
A negro at the Marshall house, two
squares away, said that he was shocked.
Two negroes we're at work on the roof
OF building on the corner OF Congress
and Lincoln streets. Both were knocked
down, and one rolled down to the edge,
and only saved himself from falling to the
street by catching the rain spout.
II might be well for the electric light
company to have the wires used as guys
for the masts grounded" so as TO carry
of the electricity should it pass to
the wires. AS it is, the wires
attract the electricity and there
is no direct way for il TO get to the
earth. A similar freak of lightning oo-
Cured only short time since, the fluid
striking one Of the guy posts and scatter
ing. Fortunately, no one was hurt at
that time.