The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-03

WOman's Mouth, Not killing
Either.
From the Lewiston Journal.
William B. Remick, who was one Of Union
Rivers heaviest lumber operators a few
years ago, and is now resident of Maria
vile, witnessed a startling natural phenom-
enon short time ago while returning from
the head of Flooda pond to the settlement.
He saw. a thunderstorm gather in a clear
sky and watched it roll on ahead of him
with ever increasing force and destructive
ness until 1t swept nearly all of Hancock
county and left score Of fires in it's wake
Some Of the freaks of the lightning. were
marvellous. At Hanscome's, In Mariaville
two families occupied the house. In the
front part was an aged gentleman seated
in an armchair, reading the Bible A ball
of fire rolled lazily in the window, danced
along the window ledge a second or two
and then rolled into the old gentleman 5
lap and across the open Bible in his hands
He experienced no shock whatever, except
a binding sensation but the metal clasps of
the Book were melted and ran to the floor,
while across the pages of the book was
stamped indelibly a miniature photograph
of large apple tree that stood in the door
after it had passed the cd made an
effort to rise, but was firmly held to his
chair by some mysterious force. After an
hour or more of effort on the part Of mem
bers of the household, with liberal bathing
of vinegar and other remedies, the chair
finally loosened its hold and he was able to
The ball of fire, after dropping from the
book, had struck the floor and bounded to
the ceiling, passing through the cracks in
the top Of the partition into the apartments
of the Hanscomes, where young Mrs. Hans
come was seated with her baby in her arms,
It came toward her from the ceiling q sway
ing ball, rocking back and forth until 1t
struck her full in the face and disappeared.
EitNt of Mrs. Hanscome's front teeth disap-
peared with 1t and were never found. Her
chair was tipped forward with her in it, and
found her haod nd
feet resting on the floor, still retaining her
position in the chair as II 1t were upright in
steady, of resting upon her. The baby was
clasped closely to her bosom, uninjured and
growing as If greatly delighted by the event.
1t was several hours before Mrs. Hanscome 8
arms could be made to unfold and release
the baby and before the chair could be re-
moved from her. When she recovered con-
seriousness she vomited large quantity of
black matter like charcoal, which gave out a
strong odor of sulphur, and 1t was a long
time before she fully recovered from the
shock.
On the wall where the electric mass passed
from one apartment to the other were streaks
| OF sooty blackness as If blown through by q
strong blast The marks could not be washed
off, and still work through the coat Of white
wash put on to cover it.
The lightning struck the barn of Thomas
| Farnsworth, near Beddington, and passed
diagonally through the building, through par
titiens and stored crops, leaving hole large
enough to pass barrel through. 1t entered
! the north end of the L basement and laid the
UNDERMINING fat for fifty feet along the
| entire house. The people in the house felt no
shock whatever, and were astonished after
the storm to discover the damage that had
been done.
One Of the strangest freaks was the strik-
| ing OF hennery and the killing of several
hens Some Of the hens rested on the roosts
! as If asleep. Others were standing upon the
/ ground in an attitude of listening Previous
to this hen was supposed to be lightning
| proof, her feathers forming the protective
| armor.