Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-05-20

EDTToR CHIKTrAIx;-In again contributing
my quota OF neighborhood news, will give
you and your readers a short chapter OF the
playful gAmbols and sports OF the electric nuid
''out our way" Ton Fly ereek) recently. The
vicinity OF the residence OF Charley England,
Just above the prairie spring Of Ben Neighbors,
seems to be . favored one for electrical visits,
as II has been lightning struck twice in just
two weeks. First, on Saturday, April 2lih, q
COW belonging 10 Mr. Truitt was killed while
feeding among the rest OF the cattle out on the
prairie near England's house Then on satur-
day night. May Srd, another bolt descended
onto Charley's house. Just afterwards I vis-
ited the locality to see and learn for myself
just what was done, and tell you 10 is an In
teresting chapter to hear and tell OF the strange
freaks OF that stroke os heavens artillery. II
beass any yellow covered dime novel badly for
Il Is true. The house Is low, one story log.
sixteen.by sixteen. one room with q leAn-to:on
one side used As Kitchen. The houre was
struck at the end OF the comb OF the roof at the
opposite end from the rock chimney. The
whole roof on both sides seems TO have been
the play ground OF the lightning. for nearly
every rAfter was split and shattered The sad
die board on one side was dipped on the length
Of the roof. and good many shingles torn on
I
yards distant. Some OF them were set on are.
but were put out by the rain. Then the nuid
ran down the center OF the end below where IL
strRck, leaving signs by knocking out the
daubins and tearing on spllnters, and break
Ing one log into just ~ you would break little
stick. but tho log still retains lite place. Two
persons only were In the house. Charley and
HE wifei she was In bed. Charley had got up
and was standing near the beside. An empty
bedstead stood within three OF four feet OF the
occupied one, leg Of that unused one Sss
split, and the castor In ita foot has disappeared
80 enectuAlly that Il has no yet been seen
since. Acouple OF dry goods boxes stand
ing between the two beds were both shattered
Then ball OF are passed through the air about
two feet above the noor, straight TO the chin
ney, missing Caatley about two feet. II sent
on innnmerable sparks or spAnglea, and, as Il
struck the hro place II burst with three loud
reports. Then there was . smell OF sulphur,
and an oppressive close feeling In the air, and
what 10 most remarkable, neither man OF
woman felt any kind OF a shock or jar, and
nothing In the room except the hedsteAd and
boxes were injured or shaken out OF ita eqnillb-
rum. In the slide kitchen one rAfter was split,
where the pipe goes through the roof II AlwAys
leaks badly. and.whon Il rAins, Charley Jasl
handliy ralaos up.the pipe, puts water buck
Of on the cook stove and sets thu pipe into Il
The nuid In lts rampage, ran down the pipe
and somehow len severAi little holes along In
the pipe like shot holes through which the
smoke now comes, and len parting salute tc
said water bucket by bursting out portion OF
its bottom bundle Of wool hanging from
the roof by string wAa set on are aud extiu.
guished BY Charley with water. On ono side
out In the yard few feet nom the house Is .
spot about a. big ~ half bush el ia which th.
grass is all burnt-killed dead. On the opp0.
ats side and about any yards distant ffol0 ihs
house, Ia spot Of perhaps aieen or twenty
feet In diameter with the tops Of tho weeds all
eqerehed A. thorsh ~ hol breath of nama.
while The lower leaves ana NE N1a1a are .0|
hurl a all bpt re-'f, NJ ,r.-t 49, .'l.s.,.
~ rep4IiA
IoIa4 InufN