The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-11-13
SAVED BY A FLASH.
Werd Concerning Mysterious Murder and How
Innocent Was Saved by the Accidental Development
of an Amateur Photographers Negative.


wonderful photographs of lightning flashes
shat are printed in the Strand Magazine!
They don't know when a flash is coming
and can't make it stay still while they
photograph it, can they?'
Not likely" l laughing replied. "The
lightning takes itself. If there is a
thunderstorm at night, all that is necessary
is to put a sensitive place in the camera,
uncover the lens and point it at the sky,
when the next flash of lightning will
record itself upon the plate, which must
then be developed in the usual way"
Is that all returned Donald. How
very easy! Couldn't we take some? Do
let us try.
All right, | replied, ''but first of all we
must wait for thunderstorm So when
there is another at night get your photo
graphic traps ready, and we'll see what we
can do.
Donald and were enthusiastic cyclists,
be being one of several years standing, but
only since we came to live here in Wood
ford on the borders of the New forest, as |
found it very convenient to ride to the
railway station-fve miles away or to
Salisbury or southampton, as our village
lies midway on the high road between
those towns.
Charmed by the lovely forest scenery
bad lately practiced the fascinating science
OF photography, and thereby secured many
& beautiful scene of woodland glade.
Donald, too, soon waxed enthusiastic over
il and many Photographic day did
We spend securing pictures OF the exquisite
scenes that abound around our home.
The marvellous photos of lightning flashes
thar appeared in the Strand had excited
Donald s wonder and curiosity, leading tc
the conversation with which this story
Commences
We had not long to wait for a thunder.
storm, FOR IN that very night ragged one Of
exceptional violence. 1t began about II
O'Clock, and Donald, who had retired tc
bed some time before, burst into my room
fully dressed aud shouted:
Come on, father There's a tremendou,
thunderstorm coming up, and such flashes
OF lighting Pm off to the dark room tc
put some plates il the slides, so get the
camera ready The front bedroom window
il .u. o.s' place to expose from.
Here let me state that our house stand'
about ten feet from the roadside, and the
view from our front windows comprises til,
r"'U and The common opposite us, a sinai
piece Of waste land surrounded by thu
ron.a trees OF the New forest.
3, the time chat had made the neces
r.ianod me, bringing three double darl
s.H ,01dri wish the sensitive plates
eve ought 20 get at least one successful
photo out Of this lot, - said he.
Suon the storm, which had gradually
been drawing nearer, bust over us Will
terrible fury, the lightning flashing viii
amazing briliancy, the thunder rolling
with deaiening Ioars. One by one the
pilates were exposed under conditions that
justified The expectations of good results
aud Donald was in high glee. Just as
was about to expose the sixth and last
plate he said:
"Whv don't YOU take a tidshIigh5 photo
OF the common with that one, Illuminated
by the cslcctial electric light, you know
Point .uc camera toward the center If the
common, Just for fun. "a like to see how
it comes OUT
acted upon his suggestion, and 40
sooner h&l got the camera in position
than flash of lightning, so vivid and bril-
liant in It's intensity as to momentalily
blind us aud wiring from us a fearsome and
terrified 'Ohn imprinted the scene on the
sensitive plate.
''I'm glad that's the last plate" said
Donald when the deafening peal Of thun-
der allowed him to make himself heard,
for should not care to stand at the window
during another such flash as that, Shall
we develop the plates tonight?'
"Not if | know 1t, replied. BE off to
he'd now, tnd we Il do them the first thing
in the morning
Bus we didn't, Tor We were awaked early
by violent ringing Of the hell, and upon
going down in my dressing gown and
opening tue door behpld the village con
stable with white, haL gard face ON which
fear was strong y marked in every line.
ooh, sir he sasprd, will you come
over on the common with me. There's the
corpse Of man lying there, aud fear he's
been murdered, Tor there ) knife stuck in
his breast. | want you to come as wit.
ness before | touch the body"
Lying on the common! Murdered
Impossible" | said. But wait moment
till | have dressed, and I'll come with
you"
The oonstabe's tale was only too true
for there, lying on the damp grass his hail
and clothes sodden with last nights rain
with upturned face and with the blade o
a large knife buried deep in his heart, lay
the corpse Of ivan Solenski, the handsome