Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-07-24
Lightning Freaks.

During storm last week three cows
were struck By lightning on the Mcclure
farm near McKeesport. Not long since
Calvin A. Mcclure, owner Of the farm. was
struck dead by lightning at the same spot,
and shortly prior to that horse met the
game fate there.
The particulars of the death OF Emma
Stone on the Galloway farm III Nenango
county are as follows: Attached 70 the
corner of the house in which she was lying
was a wire clothes line. and running at
right angles with sit aud about FIVE feet
away was telephone line, and the theory
ia that the telephone line was struck first
and that the fluid jumped to the clothes
line; penetrating the wall in three ditter-
ent places. She gasped but very few
times after the fatal stroke, and although
the other members of the family were in
the various parts of the house attending to
family duties, not a single one suffered
from the effects of the shock, nor were
they at first aware that any fatal accident
had befallen one of their household. No
marks were found upon her body"
The particulars Of the death of Ex-Com-
missioner Alexander of Mercer county are
given by the Dispatch as follows: MI
Alexander lived on his farm about four
miles east Of Mercer, and on Tuesday was
engaged with his son Edward and young
man named Shilling, in cutting rye with
reaper, to which were hitched three horses.
When the storm came up they quickly
looscned the horses from the reaper and
hurried with them to the barn. Upon ar
irving at the barn Mr.. Shilling entered
first with one horse, followed closely by
Ed, he also having horse in charge, and
bv Mr.. Alexander with the other. When
lust inside the door Mr.. Alexander attempt
ed to loose the jockey stick from the bride
of the horse, and while in that act the
death dealing electricity struck the barn,
ran down the door and jumped to the horse :
head, killing it instantly, cutting the
bride from its head, and then entered Mr..
Alexander's right hand, with which he
held the bride, into his side and down
his leg. Ed and his horse were knocked
down by the shock. but not much injupred
Mr.. Shilling was little in advance, and
was only slightly affected. He first aided
Ed. to rise and then went to Mr.. Alexand-
er, supposing he was dead, but found him
living and be shortly rallied and became
conscious The family had called neigh
bors during this time (tbe scene having
been witnessed By Mrs. Alexander) who
had now arrived and he was carried TO the
house and q physician summoned. All
that loving hands could do failed to prolong
life but about three quarters Tan hour, ana
death claimed him as its victim before the
doctor arrived. During his survival he had
hemorrage, which indicated serious inter
nal injuries. An examination by the phys
ician showed terrible internal laceratlon
of the right side, the ribs being torn loose
at the back end the chest pressed in at the
front as though struck by some heavy
weight. As to the exact cause ofthe death
there is diversity of opinion. During the
excitement the horse in charge of 1Mr.
Shilling broke loose and jumped out of the
staple over the dead horse which lay in the
door. He confidently asserts that this
animal did not touch Mr.. Alexander, but
others are of the opinion that it stepped
upon his breast and SO seriously injured
him. More than this cannot be known,
and the question is simply, could he receive
such a shock from lightning and not be
killed Instantly
On the 7th, Michael Egan, driller Of
Washington, Pa, had wonderful expert
ence during storm. He was engaged
with Robert Ferguson, in hauling some
tools to the johnson well when it began 70
rain. They entered the derrick where Al
Sybrant was drilling. Mr. Egan was stand
ing by the bull wheel when the rig was struck
By lightning and the next moment he lay
unconscious on the hoOr. His companlons
were both stunned and Mr.. Egan seemed
TO be the only one who came in contact
with the bolt. He says he had not the
faintest idea what made him lie down, as he
did not even see the fash of lightning,
nor hear the thunder There was every
evidence about his person, however, to
indicate that he did not lay down volun- !
tarily. The hair had been burned off one |
arm and leg, and they were paralyzed for |
some hours There was not mark on his
but in his pockets were some Curl
ous specimens Of the phenomena produced
by stroke Of lightning. A silver dollar
in bis pocket looked as if it had been filed |
of around the edges, while a half dollar |
presented the same curious signs. The |
ends of his keys were fused and at the
same time presented hacked appearance
His silver watch did not stop, but in the
case are two small holes, partially drilled |
through, while the links of the chain were
fused together. Altogether it was an ex-
perience few have gone through and lived
to tell it.