Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-09-09
Lightning's Deadly Work

A sudden sto!m arose Saturday morning
from the west, passing Albany, N. Y, and
going rapidly eastward. AT 1880 a. ~.
there we're three sharp flashes of lightning,
followed by deafeniDg report: which shook
he houses. The storm passed away as rapid
ly as it had appeared, and brilliant sunshine
smiled upon the rsin-droDs. Across the
F int river Catherine Thomas, coored,
starte cut 10 see what damage the storm
had done her fencing. Iu the fields were
pools of water among the crops, showing the
great rainfall. Some distance beyond she
espied the body of mule. She fastened
back and informed William Jeffries. who
went TO the spot. Here terrible sight met
bis gaz. Beneath the sheltering boughs of
large china tree were three dead bodies.
He hesitated, then gave a closer examine
ton, and discovered that they were the re.
mains of three prominent farmers of Worth
county-John Shiver, his son W. s. Shiver.
and II. II. Rouse They were lying with
their feet together John Shiver had fallen
on his back, with his head pointing to the
north weet He was dressed In a working
suit of gray jeans. His face was purple in
color, and from around the ears and in the
corners of bis eyes were masses OF clotted
blood. His hair had been sipged away from
the left side of his head, and his beard had
been partially burned away. His breast
was fearfuly burned, the skiu being liter
ally o'islered off. From above the knees
his trousers were torn to shreds. His son
was lying face downward, his head pointing
to the south. He was next to the dead
body of mule. He was also dressed In
jeans. His face was perfectly colorless,
as though bianched by some sudden and
deathly fear. He was not disfgured. His left
trowser's leg was in rags, his foot cut to the
bone, and the shoe torn from the sole.
his head pointing 10 the northeast. His
hands we're In his trousers pockets. He was
dressed in dark wooden suit, but was half
naked. much of his clothing having been
t rn away His face looked as though it
had been in sand blast. [: was complete
ly scari6ed and covered with drops ofblood.
a bay horse was lying beneath the dead
h dy of the mule Another. mule was loose
aud grazing some distance down the road.
The story of the tragedy was written In un-
mistskable language upon the scene John
Silver and his son were riding in the two.
mule wagon and Mr.. Rouse in the one horse
vehicle They had left their farms at Shiv.
ertown early ip the morning, and were
bringing their cotton to Albany. Seeing the
storm approaching they unhItched their
teams and sought shelter beneath the tree.
| The lightning flashes came in quick success
sion the storm following the course of the
| wind The FIST struck tall cedar tree in
fcon; OF The residence of Mrs. W. a. Bourne
] enttred the house. broke window sash,
| SD ck I'd .he Two Misses Bourne, throwing
one Of them from her chair. The next
| struck china tree 200 yards distant The
third was the tree beneath which the farm
ers stood They were evidently standing
closely together beneath an umbrella, evi.
IDENTITY small one. nothing of which was
left but the ribs. Young SILVER was stand
ing with his back to the two others and was
holding the brides of the animals. The
lightning struck the china tree about thirty
feet from the ground The bolt made 8 deep
incsion 10 the bark, and then fell With
deadly effect upon the three men beneath,
| killing them instantly. 1t is rumored that
six persons who sought shelter from the
storm at q house in Hardaway were all kill
ed By lightning.