The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-08-23
And Severely Shocks Another-E.
c. Nutter, of Glen Falls, the
one Killed, and Charles
Reed the Other.
Took Refuge Under Oak Tree
Current Ran Down the Trunk and
Leaped Onto Them and cours
ed Itself Downward to the
Ground.

e. g. Nutter, a young school teach
er. was killed by lightning Tuesday
evening between and O'Clock in an
omen field two miles north of the city.
He and Charles Reed, another young
man who follows the profession OF
teaching, we're enroute from the
teachers examination here to the
home Of young Nutter's parents at
Glen Falls. Both were taking the
examination, They accompanied
Reeds sister from the examination
rooms to w. II. Freeman's home on
the GofI farm, where Miss Reed was
stopping. The storm was brewing as
they reached the Freeman b me and
the young men were invited to wait
awhile, but they thought they could
reach Nutter's house before the storm
came. and started on. Mr.. Freeman
lives on the south side Of the hill and
the young men proceeded swiftly up
the hill and passing over 1t were soon
out Of sight. They had proceeded
only a hundred yards down the other
side when the storm burst forth in all
its fury. They ran to big oak tree
in the open field for shelter. A very
vivid streak Of lightning occurred
and both young men we're struck. The
current ran down the tree shattering
the limbs and bark and leaping from
the trunk to Nutter's left shoulder
ran down his left side to his foot,
bursting the shoe of his left foot. 1t
left but little trace of its course ex-
cent slight burnt spot on his left
ankle. Apparently he was leaning
against the the upper side Of the tree
with his left shoulder against 1t.
Reed was struck also. The current
touched his body at the right side and
twisted itself around his right leg
until it ran into the ground. He was
SO severely shocked that he lay in
semf-conscious condition some time.
When he recovered his senses he
found Nutter lying on his face dead.
The lightning must have killed him
Instantly. 1t would appear that when
the current struck him, he was felled
to the ground dead. Reed finally at
tempted to get up but found his legs
paralyzed. Then in greatest pain he
crawled up to the top Of the hill and
called to the Freeman home for help.
Mr.. Freeman and others went TO him
and worked with him until they sue
ceeded in standing him on his feet and
then took him to Freeman's home,
where he lay in stupor all that night.
He is able, however, to get around and
his injuries will not be permanent.
Hutter's family at Glen Falls was
Immediately notified and word reach
ed here about $50 O'Clock. The coro-
per was notified. After being told
the circumstances he deemed an in
INQUEST unnecessary, and the Stealey-
Osborn Undertaking Company was
instructed to go after the body. They
brought it in about midnight, pre-
pared it for burial and shipped it
wednesday afternoon to Broad Run
church, where interment was made.
Young Nutter was son of Turner
Nutter, coal miner, who moved from
me KIncheloe country two years ago
TO Glen Falls. He taught the Hughes
school last year, was bright young
man and strict church member. he
was well-liked by the teachers among
whom he had wide acquaintance.
He was q years old.
Mr.. Reed is a son of Levi Reed, Of
Jane Lew, and was reared mainly by
Captain Quinn Minter. He was
about the same age as Nutter.
Nutter's father is in humble cir
cumstances and the teachers in the
examination rooms raised purse of
s25 to help pay funeral expenses.