The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-10
FLOYD'S FATAL FLASH.
Particularly Sad Features of the
Double Fatality by Lightning.

Particularly Sad Features OF the
Double Fatality by Lightning.
The Rome GA Tribune gives the follow
ing account of a sad occurrence which has
already been alluded TO in the MORNING
NEWS: Sam FOrmby was sturdy young
farmer. Sallie Formby was his pretty wife
He was 10 and she was l6 They were mar
red last Christmas, and have since resided
IN Chullo district, twelve miles from Rome.
Their happy lives are ended.
A bolt of lightning was the death dealer.
Thursday afternoon about 3 o'clock Sam
FOrmbv and his wife were hoeing cotton in
a field near their home in Chulio district.
They were side by side, she on one row and
he on the other. There was heavy cloud
overhead, but they took no notice of it,
and worked on. Suddenly brilliant flash
came. The young man and his wife we're
felled to the ground. Then followed a
Formby were instantly killed. Just ten
feet back of them was Mrs. FOrmby's
sister She was knocked down by
the stroke. Still further back
was younger sister who was I'M
hurt A farmer blowing i'll field near by
saw something was the matter. He left his
plow and went to them. Tho alarm was
gwen and the bodies were teDderly removed
to the house There were no trees within n
hundred yards of where the bolt hit 1t was
a perfectly open cotton field The nearest
trees were scrubby pines forming thicket
about the distance mentioned above, and
none of them very tall. There was no ram
accompanying the lightning, and it did not
begin to fall until after the bodies were re-
moved to the house. There was n large
gathering of friends as soon as
The news was spread. These
offered every sympathy to Mrs;
Cheney, who is Mr. Formby'S sister and
VINO was in the field at the time Of the acct
dent dent 1t has only been week ago that
VIII West sold the funeral goods upon the
Death of her husband. Young Formby and
ms wife wished to cheer her i'll her loneli-
ness and on Wednesday morning they went
10 i've with her. They only resided with
her day before death came. And now the
poor widow is lonelier than ever. Last
night about II o'clock Farmer r. B. Cheney
came to the city to buy the necessary arti-
ces for the funeral About the effect of
tne lightning he said to a reporter of the
Tribune:
1T struck each of them on the top of the
mead, and singed the hair off the back part
0Sl their heads. / helped TO dress Sam. The
Hghtning seemed to twist around his neck,
ana then down his back. The mark it left
was needle points scratch except in one
or Two places the skin was badly torn. On
Tue lower part Of his back place as large
a. my hand was torn off. The lightning
made another turn and came around To the
'front.' part Of his person. 1t then continued
Town Town his left leg, and went into the ground.
Oh ms foot the skin was torn up again, like
vi MS back, only not so large. After we
dressed tS him the body began turning purple.
ms narrative from Mr. Cheney, who is
very Intelligent man, was given in a
eIralghtforward manner. He told what he
INV and told it in thrilling manner TO the
..ttporter and another gentleman who was
Standing near by.
ms afternoon the young farmer and his
~ 10 whom life was so sweet, will be
,, Ohe grave will serve for both. Into II the
s"p collins will be lowered and hidden from
in' under the soil they titled.
told. ~ P'Vuo'iO S'0iS 'AN'' ~