Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-25
LIGHTNING'S POWER.
CORONER TAYLOR TELLS OF ITS
FATAL WORK IN RICHMOND.
Five Persons Killed Here within the Last
Forty Yoars-pamagc at the
Soldiers Home, Sc.

Spcaking OF persons boirg killed by
lightning. Coroner Taylor yesterday told
a Dispatch reporter that he conld not
recall but five deaths in Richmond from
that cause during the past forty years.
Abont forty years ago two young ladies
were killed on Church Hill from the
same stroke. 1t created quite sensa-
ton at the time. and 1t was
n long while before tho city re-
covered from the effects of the
sad and sudden ending Of tho two young
lives. The old citizens on Church IN
today remember the circumstances well.
One Of the Young ladies was ON a VISIT to
the city 10 the other. and they were IN
yard when their existence was 50 sud
denly terminated.
Two rN TwESTY-FOUB HOURs
A few years ago a man was killed by
stroke of lightning While AZ WORK on the
dock nj the foot OF Seventeenth street
There had been no rain from the small
cloud which came up, ana very little
thunder or lightning was noticed. Inc
man was burned all over Las body. Tins
is the only person killed IN fins manner
that DR.. Taylor has been called upon
70 view the body Of during his term OF
seventeen years rs Coroner OF the city.
The next day after the man was killed
aterrihle storm came up and woman w0s
killed from Il hChtning-strOke on Mad
dox Hill. of the other cndOf Seventeenth
street from whore the mon was me DAY
before ushored into eternity. 1ms case
was ont Of Or. Taylor's jurisdiction.
TIE LAST INSTANCE
The fifth death was the little daughter
of MIR. Whitman, on Church Hill, Thurs
dav afternoon The Coroner was not
called TO view the body. Some doubt
has been expressed rs TO whether death
was actually caused by lightning.
There were 10 marks upon her body to
indicate that such was the case, and no
one near by felt any shock.
THE RECORD.
Counting the latter as killed by light
ming. the deaths in Richmond from the
sane cause has averaged only one III
eight years for the past forty years.
Two Of the five were killed Mt the same
time and two others within twertv-iour
hours OF each other. Three of the five
lost thor lives on Church Hill, and
two OF them were struck, one at the
eouthern and the other ut the northern
extremity Of Seventeenth street.
FREAKS or LIGHTNING AT THE SOLDIERS
HOME.
About $50 o'clock Friday afternoon
while the thunderstorm WAS IN progress
lightning struck the front portion OF the
Union cottage 1t the Soldiers Home,
donated bv the lste ". W. CorcOran, OF
WASHINGTON. The damage, however,
was slight Aporton OF the tront wea-
ther-boardinQ was torn Of and the plas-
ieTinR Knocked down from one half of
the ceiling and a portion OF the iron'
partition. The room WAS occupied 10y
judge II. l.. Ege and Mr. John Rains.
The latter WAS living on ms bed at the
time Of the flash. and was covered with
dcbris. besides being frightened. The
Judge kept his equilibrium and said he
was IN the hands OF the Lord, who always
took care of the Judge.
OTHER MGHfSISG POINTS
During the storm of Thursday after
noon bolt of lightning descended to
the earth and made n large hole IN the
ground not far from the poorhousc, on
the new Henrico road. \ rock WAS shat
tered and the fragments streTn around
prOmiscuOuslv.
Several of the electric-cars were dis
sbled during the storms OF Thursday
and Friday.