The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-30
LIGHTNING's LONG LEAP.

from the Lewiston Evening Journal
A singular phenomenon was witnessed
by a party of Waterville people yester-
day forenoon while on the way to East
Pond Over the north OF Rome and
across STnithf1eld a thunderstorm was III
progress. In that section where the par
ty was at the time the phenomenon oc-
CURED, the sun was shining brightly and
the southern, edge of the rain belt was
afterWard determined as three and a
half miles away
The party was just driving down a hill
and the country for several miles was
stretching before the party, and in plain
view. The rain fell in torrents along the
ridge three miles away and the lightning
flashed every few seconds To the east
ward are the farm buildings of Howard
Smith, on the ridge across the valley
and in the sunshine at the time. The
buildings are one mile north Of where
the party was riding. A bolt Of lightning
was seen to leave the heavy bank OF
clouds at the top of the hill or ridge
which was being deluged by the storm,
and zigzagging it's course across the
clear space for distance of at least two
and half miles. strike the barn of the
Smith place. A cloud OF what was sup
posed at the time to be smoke, but what
afterward proved to have been nothing
but dust. arose and the ladies and gem
tlemen in the carriage supposed that the
great barn would be destroyed by fire.
The party at once changed it's course
for the purpose OF going to the assist
ance of the farmer. When the Smith
home was reached it was seen the bolt
had torn an irregular course from one
end of the ridgepOIe diagoEally down the
roof to the lower corner at the farther
end of the barn. thence to fence. split
ting rails and posts; bouncing over to
the well curb and upsettfng that final
~ spending itself alnog the ground in
the direction OF the highway. Nj
Smiths damage will amount to not more
than S. and that will be taken I'D en-
tireIy in replacing shingles.
A visit was paid to the barn, in which
there were two horses. the rest of the
stock being in the pasture The horses
were trembling with fear and when spo-
ken to by the owner did not appear to
notice him. Tests were made and it was
determined that the horses were still
stunned from the shock and that their
hearing had been affected Mr. Smith
unhitched both horses and by speak king
to them tried to drive them from their
stalls. but it was in vain. the horses pay
ing no attention to him. The horses were
al last led out of the barn and walked
about for a time Then Mr. Smith
stepped behind them some distance and
spoke to them. The animals at once
turned around and went to him. Chick
ems that were about the ward at the time
the bolt fell were rendered unconscious
and for more than an hour. although
alone ard wandering about were still
so dazed that they would run against
obstacles in the yard. The trail of the
bolt in the earth was not wider than two
inches and did not penetrate the ground
al q greater depth. When the bolt ar1iv-
ed at the highway it must have taken a
flight into space, as the trail stops sud
denly with no indica ton of the bolt hay
ing gone into the ground
Mr.. Smith said that at the time the
bolt struck his barn he was observing
the progress of the storm west and north
and that the eastern edge of the cloud
near the northern extremity seemed to
be afre with lightning and that the thin
streaks of fire daTted out of the edge of
the cloud far into the clear section every
few seconds