Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-15
ATROCIOUs CRIME.
The Fiend Arrested-WOnderCu Es-
cape from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., &c.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l

cape from LtGhtnfng-StOrm, &c.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatchl
BELMONT, Va, May IL, 1889.
The most atrocious crime ever committed
in this neighhorhood took place at Belmont
Yesterday. Jim Hurt. young man about
twepty-one years old "a Degro). committed
criminal assault on little colored girl. Hurt
afterwards fed, hiding himself 10 one OF the
buildings on the fam Of Mrs. B. f. Groves,
where be was discovered this morning and
arrested and sent on TO jail at Spotsylyania
Courthouse.
On Saturday last there was fearful storm
OF thunder, lightning. and bail at this place,
(Peake's Cross.Roads and Belmont. The
roar OF the thunder and the flashing OF the
lightning was something awful. Julian
Kendall was standing on the porch OF X. V.
Groves when an apple tree was struck some
distance of and the shock was so terrific that
he was knocked down on his knees. The
stable OF L. ID. Taylor was moved by the
wind and almost blown down. There were
niue head OF horses in the stable at the time
and several men. Amongst the men were
Muniord johnson. OF LOuiss, and Mr.. Estes,
OF Orange. When the house began TO
creak and sway in the wind 1t is said
thst the boys made 2:40 speed TO Get out.
=
Jsckson) who lives Just over the river from
Holidays mill was struck BY lightning,
but strange to say, was not killed. She was
on a visit 10 some friends near Mt. Pleasant
church, In Louisa, and had Just gotten up
and was dressing. While she was putting
on her corset the house was struck. and the
current stripped her OF almost all OF her
clothing, reducing II TO tho condition OF lat.
The steels OF the corset we're completely torn
out and what renamed OF her clothes took
fire, but the flames were put out by the chill
dren, who. strange 10 say, were less ffighten-
ed by the shock, &c. than the Older persons.
Though there were several other persons in
the room none Of them were hurt. The
house itself was badly knocked 10 pieces.
The lightning passed across the whole width
OF the house aud tore several sheets OF TIN
from safe In the far corner. The
girl has been brought home, and
Is under treatment OF DR.. j. g. Boxley, who
thinks she will recover. The track OF the
lightning Is plainly seen on her person. II
IS not perfectly clear which is the work OF
the flames and which OF the current. The
flesh is blistered and torn in many places
from her head TO Der heels. Still the glrl
can stand up and even hobble about. At
present there is CLASSY blm over her eyes,
and she Is unable 10 see; but the Doctor
hopes that she will recover her sight. This
is the only case have ever heard OF where
any one was actually marked either much
or little and yet stood chance to recover.
Lightning has some curious ways I'm
Louisa and Spotsylysnia along the line OF
the mineral belt, running ia this direction.
| know OF place where tree after tree has
been struck 10 a strsight Hue, showing.
suppose, the presencs OF mineral below. aud
strange to say. the hghtning evidently struck
Up instead OF down IN number o, cases.