River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-06-29
Incidents and Results OF Wednes-
DAYS Catastrophe.

We are pleased to be justified in say
ing chat all The injured in the late
catastrophe are doing well and will
ultimately recover. Some of them
however were severely injured and It
will require time and nursing to bring
them back to their normal condition.
Mrs. James Glendenning was perhaps
the most seriously injured of any one.
She was not strong aud her physicians
feared the worst for a time. They
consider her now in fair way TO re-
covery. The surviving boy who was
injured by the same bolt that killed
his father and brother and came so near
making him doubly and orphan has
quite recovered.
Alfred Mapes another of the seri-
ously injured is recovering the use of
himself, his burns which were severe
now being the principal cause OF suf-
fering. The same may be said of
Roses and Delhorbe. Their burns
are very severe, so much so as to make
any movement of the limbs painful.
Their general health is good and this
with the vigorous health of young
manhood will bring them safely out OF
their injuries.
James Jackman of Pleasant Valley
was paralyzed by the lightning on the
2lst and was hors de combat for sever
al days, but now feels no especial in
convenience except that his muscles
do not seem to perform their ordinary
functions with the accustomed alac-
rity.
Hans Larson also complains that the
shock he received at the same time
has left him in very "shaky" con-
dition, but he thinks this "shaky"
state of affairs in his own system may
be the result of sympathy with the
financial outlook.
Mr.. Moulton received a shock that
stunned and Frustrated him but re-
ceived no injury. Mrs. Moulton was
standing beside him resting her hand
on his shoulder, this hand was severe
ly burned.
Curtis Aldrich's experience was re-
markable and his own escape borders
on the miraculous. He was severely
and it was thought for several hours
after the accident fatally injured.
He remained unconscious far into the
night and was paralyzsd to such an
extent that the physicians could de-
tect no pulsations in the left side of
his body for six hours or more, but
yesterday Mr.. Aldrich was on the
street walking about with bandaged
| feet assisted only by crutch. This
is his third tussle with lightning.
Once he was thrown from the top of
grain stack by shock, and on another
occasion was thrown nearly across
room when bolt struck the chimney
of the house in which he was stopping.
When he received the shock on the
2lst which killed his little boy he was
holding the latter by the hand. What
a mournful experience! Clasping the
little hand of his trusting child whose
happy face was turned to his fathers
listening intently to catch the mean.
ing of words never fully pronounced
and the lightning descended from
heaven and that hand was limp and
hfeless, the voice was hushed and the
happy heart of childhood stood still,
but the smile remained upon the
placid face of innocence. What an
awful awakening came to that fond
father when the full consciousness re-
turned to him. Health may be restor.
ed to him, all that the world could
give which he may desire may be- his,
but there will be void untitled all
along his earthly pilgrimage, his child
will come not back. He will look
with an unspeakable longing for Claud,
but he will never again sec him run
ming down the road with joyous shout
to meet him ON bis return from the
city. lie will not hear his glad voice
at play among his fellows. Coming
from the field he will miss him in his
accustomed place, his chair at the
table will be vacant, he will be alone
in the fields and on the highway and
in the bosom of the night. In agony
will his soul cry out in the darkness
for his lost boy but he will hear no
answering hail. There will be silence
and gloom.
Claud was eight years old--hot an
infant whose young mind could not
comprehend and appreciate, nor a
youth who had drawn himself away
from his father-self.reliant and in
dependent but he was in that trusting
age of his life when he can understand
but leans wholly on his father, relies
upon him, coDfides in him, believes
him the best and wisest man, and
that fathers heart enshrines him
completely, his love encircles him, his
arm is around him, he has grown into
his fathers life, these two are one.
Never before the age of six or seven
are they so and never after the child
is ten. And suddenly this young life
is torn away from the fathers heart;
part of that heart lies in the grave
of the dead child. He will cherish
the memory of his child, it will be
sweet and green and fragrant. He
lives with him in the past, he hears
his dear voice-a voice that thrilled
him as the sweetest music could not,
he sees the smiling face still, every
incident of that innocent and happy
life comes to his thoughts to-day.
And these thoughts will repeat them
selves every day of that fathers NOR
tai life. but lit is well with the
child"
The case of little Floyd Smith, is
similar in some of its aspects to that
of the above. Mr.. Smith, the father.
is nearly blind and depended in large
measure upon the help and guidance
of the SON. who WAS fourteen SYM.