The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-29
LIGHTNINGs CURIOUS FREAKS.
Some Very Peculiar Instances of It's
fleets on the Body.
From the Ne.o York Press.


severe thunder storm early in June, received
a stroke of lightning that very nearly killed
him. He was completely paralyzed for sew
eral hours, and was not able to speak or
make any sort of motion. His shoes were
torn from his feet, though his feet gave no
evidence of the visit of The mysterious fluid.
There were few slight burns on his body.
Though he was paralyzed he retained entire
possession of his faculties, and can des .ribe
the sensation he experienced as life came
back to his benumbed limbs. He thinks he
mlghs have been unconscious for a second,
because he has no recollection of failing.
On the other hand, he saw the clerk in his
store running to his assistance. InaSmuch
as the clerk saw him fall and ran imme-
dlately to his assistance, it would seem that
the period of inconsistencies must have
been very short indeed
MY eyes were wide open," said he, land
l was not able to close them. | could see,
hear and understand everything, but could
not move or talk. At first my body seemed
absolutely devoid of any feeling whatever,
then, as the treatment to which the doctors
subjected me began to have effect,
became conscious first of feeling of numb
ness. which gradually began to be painful,
until finally the numbness had worn away
and my entire body seemed to be one in
tense ache, very much like that which ac-
companies intiammatory rheumatism.
When the pain was the most intense my
muscles began to have involuntary motion,
a sort of twitchi much like that of st.
Vitus' dance. Very shortly after that
began to get control of my muscles myself.
and motion became gradually easier
and easier to me. All this occupied prob
ably ten hours from the time | was
struck
Mr.. Newell saws also that he was a victim
of insomnia before his experience, which
was now entirely disappeared.
1T CURED HER RHEUMATISM.
Five years ago Mrs. William Baxter of
Milford, Conn, was struck by lightning
during sudden afternoon storm, while she
was i'll the act of closing a window TO pre-
vent the rain from driving in. The fluid
first struck a corner of the frame dwelling
and tore off the clapboards in straight line
toward the open window. 1t then pros
trated Mrs. Baxter and ran along two sides
of the bedroom to the chimney, following
the brickwork to the kitchen below, where
iron pots and kettles were scattered over the
floor and the stove upset.
Mrs. Baxter was a short, stout woman
about As years of age, and subject to rheu-
matism in her lower limbs. The stroke of
lightning knocked her senseless, and she re-
manned unconscious for more than three
hours. Her skin was not broken, but the
electric flu d left dark blue marks across
her shoulders and down the right side, in
which there was for year afterward par
tial paralysis. She has now almost entirely
recovered from the effects of the stroke and
has since been wholly free from her rheu-
matte troubles.
Mrs Baxter has no recollection of what
transpired from the moment she raised her
hand to unfasten the window sash until she
regaIned Consciousness. Her senses came as
suddenly as they departed, and she at once
stretched out her arm and endeavored to
lower the sash. While members of her
family were rubbing her limbs to resusci-
tate her there was no sign of life excepting
an occasional long breath. When a thun-
derstorm is now approaching Mrs. Baxter
feels an attack of nausea, but otherwise she
is as we'll as ever.
HOW EDITOR BURT WAS CURED.
Henry NJ. Burt, the editor and publisher
of Among the Clouds, souvenir daily
newspaper published on the summit of Mt.
Washington, N. H., during the summer
season, will long have reason to remember
his experience with lightning, which oc-
CURED nine or ten years ago. The paper
was then issued from the old Tip Top house,
which contained the printing press, types,
cases, etc. TIu der storms are frequent at
this elevation, 6293 feet. many times the
shower passing below the summit, on which
the sun will be shining while the lightning
plays below.
On this occasion a bolt came through the
window, struck Mr.. Burt, lodged about
among the other persons present, and then
went out at another window. Mr. Burt
was picked up insensible, placed on one Of
the trains of TIE cog railroad which runs
down the mountain-side, and taken
70 ba hasa WHARF he was huria6 I'm
to his neck IN fresh earth. The electric
ity rapidly left him, and he recovered his
senses.
He was disabled for a couple of months
or more, but entirely recovered, except that
he has been since, perhaps, in somewhat
more delicate health thaa before. His SEN
sation when recovering his senses was an in
tense prickling or tingling ali over his body,
as if innumerable fine pointed needles were
sticking into the flesh.
The same course of treatment, burying
the patient in fresh earth as soon as possible,
was tried on a fireman on the Mt. Wash
ington railroad who was struck by light
ming, with equally good results. In that
case the fireman, who was taken
from the summit of the mountain to tile
base in sensible, is said to have ridden back
in the cab of his own engine few hours
after.
Lavinda Adams,s farmer residing at
Pound Ridge, N. Y. "a small town a few miles
below Danbury, Conn, just over the state
line, was sitting at the supper table with
his family and neighnor, Noah Brown, on
Saturday evening April 20, talking laugh
ing and joking, when about 6 o'clock peal
of thunder came, flash, and nothing more
was seen or heard by any of the party until
Edward, the 19-year-old sou, came to his
senses.
Everything was in disorder. Every pane
of glass in the window frames was
shattered. His father, mother. two sis
tiers, infant brother and Mr.. Brown were
lying on the floor motionless and appar-
entity dead
The cracking and swapping of timbers
over head attracted his attention, and as he
saw the flames rapidly consuming the dry
and splintered rafters he realized that it was
time for action. He lost no time in drag
ging the forms of the unfortunates out Of
the doomed house.
His Oldest sister was the next to recover
from the shock, and she was at once sent
for hello. Neighbers hurried to the scene,
and set about to extinguish the flames.
This done, all turned their attention to the
unfortunate and still unconscious victims.
Mrs. Adams had recovered in the mean
time, but she showed every sign of insanity,
and it was by main force she was kept from
rushing into the burning building. The
youngest sister was killed outright.
Mr.. Brown was so badly injured that he
died the following morning. His flesh was
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