River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-26

STRUCK BY A EzTEoR.
A Remarkable Experience with a Fiery
Messenger.

Wouldn't you consider it a remark
able thing to be almost killed by a
heavenly messenger in the shape OF a
molten mass of mineral or an immense
glowing mass of gas?" asked short,
heavy-set man of his companions at the
Grand Pacific hotel as he removed his
silk hat and carefully wiped the per-
spiration from his bald head. His
name was j. T. Dougine. Several of
the auditors burst into fits 90 laughter
at the peculiar question. but the little
man. who has spent years in the noun
tains of the Pacific slope and among
the EslSimos of the Alaskan peninsula,
remarked that he was sincere and spoke
in great earnestness.
Yes, gentlemen" he continued, II
bear on my body the autograph of a
visitor from the skies, which may re-
main with me as long as | live. 1t was
the closest call for death that | have
ever had. How / escaped being killed
can't explain. You see /. in company
with Messrs. Robinson and Harris. was
making a trip into the Haqua Hala
mountain range, in Yuma county, Ariz.,
about February |, to inspect some min
ing property. We left the train at Az
tee and securing ponies we started over
the trail north of the ella river to our
camp. We had proceeded about thirty
miles, when a rainstorm broke over the
mountains. Still the sky above us
seemed to be clear.
suddenly there came binding flash
and deafening roar that caused us to
close our eyes and cover our ears. Our
ponies became frantic. | was conscious
of the proximity of a long line of fire
that resembled molten iron. burning
sensation about the calf of my left leg,
and feeling of faintness c;.me over me.
As soon as my companions recovered
from their establishment they found me
in an unconscious condition lying upon
the trail. Several rods beyond gap
ing, steaming hole in the earth and rock
showed where the heavenly visitor had
buried itself.
my friends placed me on blanket
and carried me to the camp that was
conveniently located near an old adobe
corral that contained considerable hay.
A bed was arranged for me, and ! re-
manned asleep until the next morning.
Upon awakening | discovered that my
left leg, from the knee To the ankle.
was as black as coal, and swollen until
it resembled miniature ear wheel.
That is what the meteor-for that is
what the hot visitor undoubtedly was
had done for me. Within few hours
the pains left me and was able to con-
tinue my journey. The swelling grad
ually diminished, but the color, to
great degree, still remains.
ARIZONA doctors to whom we told the
story made careful examinations of my
limb. but they admitted that they were
nonpluseL Nothing similar to IL had
ever come to their notice. One physician
said he had "A patient who had been
struck by lightning whose body bore
similar imprints, but why only one por-
tion of the limb should exhibit such
signs when the remainder appeared
normal he could not explain. can use
the limb freely without pain. Now,
that is why ! ask whether it is not a re-
marl1able thing to come s. near death
by meteor"
A small congress of auditors looked
extremely surprised over the details of
the story, and then they agreed that
Mr.. j. +. Dougine was safe for the rest
of his life from the effects II heavenly
fire. ChicagO News.