The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-16
DOES ELECTRICITY KILL
A Remarkable Case of ResusctthtiOn
After Suffering Li&htninx Stroke.

Remarkable Case of RECONSIDERATION
After Suffering a Lightning Stroke.
This case came under the writer's OBJ
servation on the 18th of June, 1869, says
the Quincy Daily Telegraph. 1t was near
Stanwood, Cedar county, Ia, on clear
and extremely warm day. Theodore Ciotn-
Ter, a carpenter, 20 years of age, was RID
ing along the road bestriding saddleless
horse. In all the sky there was only one
cloud visible, and it a comparatively small
one. Two men in a light wagon had just
passed Clothier when tremendous thund-
erclapp was heard. Looking back they saw
horse and rider prone on the ground. Inc
lightning struck Clother in the right
breast, passed down his body, through the
horse, and into the ground. The horse and
rider were instantly KILLED" The rider
tumbled over backward and was ap-
parenty as thoroughly killed as ever a
lightning-kiled man was when the, TWO
men reached him. They found his clothing
on fire and eXtinguished it. The vest was
found to have been charred from the arm
hole to the lapel on the right side. The
hair was burned from his forehead and
his eyebrows and eyelashes were burned
off. From near the shoulder to below the
ribs was black SCARED flesh that rubbed
off on being touched; below was wound
as large in dimensions a mans hand,
and SO deep that when the incinerated cut
icle 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 the form of ball in the
pocket. His keys and the ring to which
they were attached and the nail set he
carried in the pocket were likewise melted
into solid mass, as were the blades OF
his knife.
While the two men were discussing what
was best to be done, a local character lv-
pos tn, fl,o 20 xrrtif h
was killed, veteran of the war, generally
regarded as a harmless. well-meaning
crank, approa ched and declared the inten-
| ton of bringing the man back to life. The
group who had gathered were not inclined
| to consider the crank's proposition serious
| ly, and decided to remove Clothiers re-
mains to his house, and aid in preparing
them for burial But the fellow was a
determined character, and exhibited such
capacity for having his own way, that the
crowd surrendered and let him have it,.
| He rolled the body over on its left side,
and he did SO the burned flesh from the
| right side fell off. The people who had con-
| gregated begged him to desist but he
| didn't.
| IF he's dead I guess it won't hurt him, =
was his reply, and he continued TO rub the
| body vigorously where it had not been
| burned. He never let up, and in threee or
| four hours the dead man showed signs of
| life. Water was sent for and his face was
| bathed. He was removed to house near
by and turned over to three doctors who
had been summoned.
When restored to full consciousness he
was in such eXcruciating pain that he had
| to be placed under the influence of opiates.
| This course continued for nearly four
| days. He suffered greatly even after that,
| but his burns healed and he recovered his
health.
| He is now So years old, and is proprietol
| hOnSo
senses he still suffers from the effects c
| his experience when he was killed by
| lightning. Before the approach of an cleo
| trio storm, sometimes long four
days, he suddenly becomes droWsy, and al
| efforts to awaken him are futile until af.
| ter the storm has passed and the electrical
| ly charged air has given way to a clearer
atmosphere. His eyesight has never been
strong since, and he is obliged TO wear a
cap that comes we'll down over his fore
! head and is provided with a peak.
In talking with the writer recently Mr.
Clothier expressed the opinion that had he
| been covered with dirt ANNA
| ton had been restored he would not now
| be troubled with the sensations that pre-
cede the arrival of thunder storm. He
added that be believes his is the only case
of its kind on record. He is Canadian Ly
birth. but came to this country when only
| years of age, his parents moving to New
York state. He came West as a young mar
and served during the late war mem
| Der of Company G. 31st Iowa volunteers
On the close of the war he returned t.
! Iowa, and has resided there ever since
The flash that struck him killed thu
| horse after it had passed down his body
| leaving scars-dark, red, angry scars--as
| plain today they were - years ago
The course pursued in restoring him tc
| life very similar to that pursued with
artificial lespira ton q basis. Had this
| not been resorted to, there is no manner OF
| doubt that Mr.. Cothier's body would have
| been lying in its grave for a quarter of a
century. He would not have returned to
consciousness.
His case goes to prove that electricity a.
| a death dealing agency is not to be de-
pended upon 1t may be terrible in its in
| tensity and power, but by no means is it
| certainly and instantaneously fatal-or rec
essarily fatal a all.