Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-13
DOES elscralclry KILLf
Remarkable Case Of Reconciliation After
suffering u Lightning Strote.

A Remarkable Case OF Reconciliation After
suffering Lightning stroke.
This case came under the writer's OBJ
eervation on the 18th OF June, 1869 IL
was noar Stanwood, Cedar county, Ia. on
n clear and extremely warm day. Theo
dore Clothior, a carpenter 90 years Of age,
was riding along tho road bestridipR a
saddleloss horse. IN all the sky there was
only ono cloud visible. and 1t compara
lively small one Two mon In a light
wagon had Just passed Clothier whom a
tremendous thunderolAp was heard. Look.
ing back, they saw horse and rider nropc
on the ground. The lightning struck
Clothier in the right breast, passed down
his body, through tho horse and into the
ground. The horse and rider were instnut.
ly killed" Tho rider tumbied over back,
ward and was apparently us thoroughly
killed as ever lightning killed man was
when the two men reached him. They
found his clothing on FIRE and extinRuishcd
IT. Tho vest was found to have been
charred from the armhole TO the lapel ON
tho right side. The hair was burned from
his forehead, and his eyebrows and eve.
lashes were burned OF From nenr the
shoulder TO below tho ribs was black scar.
red flesh that rubbed of ON being touched.
Below was wound as large in dimensions
as n mans hand, aud so deep that when
tho inclnerated outicle was removed the
internal organs were exposed. From this
point the lightning shot to rule carried
in pocket made for 1t in the trousers
hip. The rule had brass tips that were
melted by the heat and were found In tho
form Of a ball In the pocket His keys and
the ring to which they were attached and
the nailsot ho carried in tho pocket were
likewise melted into solid mass, as were
ho.blRdos OF his knife
While tho two men were discussing
what was best to DO done local character
living In the farmhouse near which Cloth.
Ter was killed, aveteran OF tho war, gen
orally regarded as harmless, well mean.
ing crank, approached and declared the In
tontion OF bringing tho man back 10 life
The group who had gathered were not in
ollned 20 consider the crank's proposition
seriously and decided to remove Clothlors
remains to his house and aid In preparing
them for burial, but tho follow was u do
termined character and exhibited such ca,
paoity for having his own way that tho
crowd surrendered md let him have IL
Ho rolled tho body ovor on its left side,
and as he did so tho burned flesh from the
right side fell off. Tho people who had
oongrcgnted begged him to dcsist, but he
didn't.
"It he's dead, I guess II won't hurt him, 4"
was his reply, and no continued to rub tho
body vigorously where It had not been
burned. Ho never let up, md in three or
four hours the dead man showed signs of
life Water was sent for and his faco was
bnthod. He was removed 20 house near
by and turned over TO three doctors who
had been summoned.
Whom restored TO full consciousness, he
was In such eIoruointing pain that ho had
10 DO placed under the Influence of oplatcs
This course was continued for nearly four
days ilo suffered greatly even after that,
but his burns healed, and ho recovered his
health.
He isnow 90 years old and is proprietor
Of n boarding house at DIN, Ia In two
senses no still suffers from tho effects OF
his experience whom no was killed by
lightning Before tho approach ofan olec
trio storm, sometimes rs long as four days
bo suddenly becomes drowsy and all efforts
TO awaken him Hrc futile until after tho
storm has passed and tho electrically
charged air has given way to clearer at
mosphero. His eyoslght has never been
strong since, and he is obliged TO wear
cap that comes well down over his forehead
and is provided with penk
In talking with tho writor recently Mr.
Clother expressed the opinion that had he
been covered with dirt as soon as hnimn
tion had been restored no would not DO
troubled with tho sensations that prccodc
tho arrival OF a thunder storm He added
that no believes his is the only case OF IS
kind on record He Is Canadian by birth
but came to this country when only years
Of ngo, hts paronts moving to Now York
state llo cnmo west as n young man and
served during the lata war as member VI
Company g. Thirtyarst Iowa yolunteors
On the close Of the war he returned to
Iowa and has resided there ever since
Tho flash that struck him killed the
horse after u had passed down his body.
leaving scars-dnrk, red, angry soaIg--as
plnin today as they were go yonrs ago,
The course pursued In restoring him TO
life was worry similar to that pursued with
artificial respiration as a basis, Had this
not been rcsorted TO there IS no manner OF
doubt TINT Mr.. Clothicrs body would have
been lying In Its grave for quarter OF
century. He would not have returned TO
consciousness
His case goes to prove that electricity as
death dealing agency is not to bo depend
ed upon. IL may DO toTiblo In Its linton
sity and power, but by no means is it Ger
talnly and instant Gnoously fhtaI---or neoes-
sarily fatal ct alL-Quincy Herald.