Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-08-08
LlShtning'S Deadly Work.
ROBERT W. LAWDER KILLED IN
STANTLY WHILE IN HIS
MEADOW AT WORK.
His Skull Crushed and 4 Cash Cut
IN His Neck-Four OF His Hired
Men Knocked Senseless-
A Deplorable
Death.

Robert w. Lawder was instantly
Killed by a bolt of lightning abouJ 8
O'Clock Monday evening, August .,
while working a gang of p men in
his meadow, 3 miles Northeast of Mex
leo, near the Geo. Adams residence.
Several of the laborers were topping
of n straw stack between showers
and Jim Donnelly, Warner George
and Marion Griggsby were on top OF
the rick when MIR. Lawder went up
with pitchfork in hand to give some
directions about the work. Before he
a time TO scarcely utter a word a
flash of lightning struck him on the
top of the head, the current
running down his body and tearing
OFF one of his shoes. The crown of
the hat Mr.. Lawder had on was torn
out, and a broad red streak extended
down his breast, over his body and
continued down the left leg to the
foot. The top of his skull was frac-
tured and crushed and a cash was cut
in the neck. 1t is supposed that death
was instantaneous, Is Mr.. Lawder did
not even utter a sound after the bolt
fell. Warner George, colored, who was
on the stack and who had momentar-
lily stopped work to give Mr.. Lawder's
orders attention, says Lawder threw
both hands high in the air and his
hat flew off before he fell. This is all
George remembers. The shock was
so strong that Donnelly, George and
Griggsby were all knocked ~senseless,
Griggsby and another man falling off
the stack. Jim Pringle, who was by
the side of the stack on a wagon, was
knocked to the ground, as was also
VIM. Hardisty, who was on a wagon at
the stack. None of the other men
were injured, but it was several min
utes before they fully regained con-
sciousness.
The body of Mr.. Lawder was con-
veyed to the residence of AL. Smith,
near by, and word was sent to Mrs.
Lawder and to town for physicians.
Drs. HALEY, Hutton, Rodes, McFall
and Adams hurried to Mr.. Smiths
house, where they worked on the
body for an hour and q half, using all
means known to medical science to
revive life, but to 40 purpose. The
body was removed to the Lawder
homestead, just east of this city, by
Mr.. Hardisty about two hours after he
was killed.
Mr.. Lawder's wife was at home
when she received the sad Jews and
went to her husband at once, but his
mother was in Knoxville, Tenn,
whittier she had gone several weeks
ago on a visit. She was Immediately
advised of her sons sad death by
wire and will return tonight or to-
morrow.
Deceased was one of Audrain's fore
most young farmers and a prominent
stock dealer. The Lawder farm is
one of the largest under cultivation
in this county and Mr.. Lawder man.
aged it successfully, producing yearly
large crops of all kinds. He was %
years old and on March 10, 1894, was
married to Miss Flora Ringo, of this
city. Major r. E. Lawder, father oil
deceased, and during his life well
known all Owe the State, died about
6 years ago, leaving an extensive es-
tate.
There is 4 rumor that Mr.. Lawdel
had $4,000 INSURANCE. on his life, but
this could not be verified at n late
hour. The general impression is thai
he had no life insurance.
The news of the untimely death OF
Mr.. Lawder was n severe shock tc
this community, where he has lived
from boyhood. He was a straight
forward, enterprising, Woodworking
yong man and everybody was hi
friend.