The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-23
A Most Miraculous Escape.

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A Most Miraculous Escape.
Last weeks Roanoke News gave the
following account OF lightning's freak
in Weldon:
"Little Leslie Parker, the three year
old son of Mr.. and Mrs. A. D. Parker.
made the most miraculous escape from
instant death on record, last Sunday
evening, at the home of its parents,
corner of Sycamore and Third streets.
about seven O'Clock heavy rain
storm came up and the little boy went
out on the porch with a tin can in his
hand to catch some water from the
caves of the building. Just as he
reached the edge of the porch there
was binding flash of lightning, fol-
lowed by terrific report, and little
Leslie fell out as if dead. The inmates
OF the house rushed out and Mr.. Parker
caught the limp little figure up in his
arms and ran across the street to DIR.
Green, who lives opposite. The ply
slclan began at once to work on the
little fellow. It was fully ten minutes
before the child showed the least signs
OF life and about one hour and half
before the doctor could discover its
pulse. Investigation revealed the fol-
lowing facts The lightning struck the
roof of the building, and that being
metal it ran down to the caves of the
house. Here it forked, one portion of
the fluid passing down post of the
porch and the other shattering a win
dow to the pantry. The post was
large one, but it was split and splinters
were torn out and scattered upon the
floor. Little Leslie stood within two
feet of this post and received portion
of this deadly fluid upon his head. The
hair was burned where the lightning
struck him, and it then passed down to
his neck and attacked gold chain tho
child was wearing. The chain was
torn into fragments and many of the
links were melted. There is now
black streak around the child's neck,
and the burn shows the impress of the
chain. The lightning then passed |
down burning the childis breast and
other portions of the body, the appear
ance being as if some one had taken
hot iron and made the marks. There
was a charm, or medallion, attached to
the chain. The breast shows a burn
where this charm rested, but the piece
was not found.
'This is undoubtedly the most re-
markable case on record, and no doubt
there are people who will be incredu-
lous about it. But the child still lives,
marked by the fluid from the elements,
and it is the opinion OF leading ply
sicians that Leslie Parker's escape from
death will 90 down into history as the
most miraculous ever before known"
Non Plussed Drummer.
There are now many drummers at
work amongst the farmers soliciting
tobacco for the various warehouses.
Recently one OF these clever gentlemen
drove up to a farmers gate in this
and addressed him politely,
asking him how he was.
81 am not feeling WE'LL" said the
farmer.
"What seems to be the matter?"
inquired the drummer.
"My dog died this morning."
D.-"Was he very valuable dog"
F.-"No; not very, but I regretted
to lose him."
Some other words passed about the
death of the dog and the drummer got
an idea that he died some terrible
death, when he asked the farmer
"What caused your dog to die?"
sHe barked himself to death at
answered the farmer.
And the drummer passed on.