The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-18
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
County Assessor George Walker &c.
riously Hurt While Out
Driving.
The Bolt Killed Ills Horse and a
Cow Standing Near
BY.
Another Bolt Entered the Residence of
w. l.. Scott and Started .
Fire,

County Assessor George Walker WINS
struck by a bolt of lightning near the fair
grounds yesterday afternoon while out
driving. Mrs. Walker and her six months
DID baby were in the buggy, but were not
injured. Robert Brooks. a blacksmith
working for Wilmer Bros, was in a buggy
a few feet behind Walker when the flash
came. He saw Walker knocked out of the
buggy and Mrs. Walker drop forward with
the baby of the seat upon the dashboard.
Tho young gray horse which Walker was
driving dropped dead in the harness and a
COW about fifteen feet to the left of the
buggy fell to tho ground ~lifeless. Brooks
felt the shock and for an instant was dazed.
Mrs. Walker remained in her position a few
seconds, but afterwards said it seemed to
her she had been unconscious for a half
hour. Brooks jumped out and, with sew
eral others, carried Walker to a
house not far from the Jewish
cemetery where he lay moaning and Shrek
ing until Brooks returned from the city
with DR.. Rockman. The doctor, who is
intimately acquainted with Walter, did not
recognize him. His face was black and the
eyeballs rolled about wildly. Across the
forehead the flesh was burned and blistered
and the hair on the head singed. The bolt
struck near the left temple, vent down the
neck and across the chest, running down
the right arm, which was black and Bills
tered. Near the elbow in the coat sleeve
several large holes were burned, showing
where the bolt left the body.
The report that reached DIR. Rockman at
his office was that q man had been killed.
He had to come back to town for ointments
and bandages before much relief could be
given. After he commenced to apply his
remedies Drs. Carmichael and Bullard ar
rived and assisted him. While the physi-
clans we're at wofk Mrs. Walker, who had
everything possibly for her husband.
His wild outcries Indicated that his mind
was affected. In answer to her questions
if he knew her he replied no. Don't you
know the baby George?" she asked. mo,
] am not married. I have no babv,' he
taken to HIS residence on Seventh avenue.
The physicians instructed tho nurse not to
allow any one to see him except his
wife.
At five O'Clock in the afternoon he was
partly conscious. He realized where he
DR.. Rockman said his patient was severely
injured but he could not tell just then the
extent OF the injuries. Later in the even
ing tho doctor made another call and came
away saying that Walkers condition was a
little better. but he could not say that the
danger point was passed. The doctor says
1t ia tho most remarkable case he knows of,
and wonders how hispatient escaped instant
death. The accident started all sorts of
will iumors about town. One was to the
effect that the top Of Walkers skull had
been blown off BY the force of the bolt, and
still another was that he had been Instant
~ killed. Late in the afternoon it was re-
ported that he was dead. A good many
were under the IMPRESSION that City Treas
urer james b. Walker had been struck by
hghtn,ng. This rerort probably arose
from the fact that Mr.. Walker had gone
ont d wing during the afternoon with Mrs.
Wake and their baby.
When DIR. Rocknan was at George
Walkers house last night, Mrs. Walker
told him about the prickling sensation
which she felt running down her right side
when the shock came. He made an exam
nation and found a Wonderful freak of the
lightnlng's work on her right leg. On the
limb was a perfect tracing of a branch of a
tlea, showing the form of the leaves, an
outline of the branch, and little stems and
twigs. The delicate tracing was of a livid
color, and will probably remain with Mrs.
Walker all her davs as n reminder of the
ride she took with her husband in the val
lev.
The shock was felt in all parts of the city.
A number of people who were sitting on the
front porch of the Grand Central hotel
thought the First National bank building
on the other side of the street had been
struck. From the high bui 'dings IN the
central portion of own several saw the zig
gag shaped streak of white flame leap out
of the black clouds overlapping the valley
north of the city. 20 some it looked as if
the bolt had zone into the ground on t Q
east side of the race track.
Shortly after the shock another one was
felt and a few minutes later n fire alarm
came i'll from box seventy-two, on the east
side of town. Lightning struck the brick
residence of w. L. Scott, Mt breckenridge
and Rtloiah streets. The bolt tore a hole
through the roof and struck n gaspipe. The
gas became ienited, and for a few minutes
it looked IA il there would be n pretty big
fire. A small garden hose was turned on
the flames, which were soon extinguished.
The department responded promptly, but
there was no work for the Aremen. At the
time of both occurrences it waa not raining,
although heavy black clouds hung over the
city and valley.
The Zee Hive decorated toilet set, nine pieces,
only So. rs: withslop pail 81. They are bargains.
Iadies' and misses Jersey ribbed summer yest