The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-20
RATTLEsNAKEs AND LIGHTNING.
Nuggets Of Truth That Were Found Lying
Around Loose.

There is considerable uncomplimentary
Corporation Commissioner Rogers. In
fact some have gone SO far as to sug-
gest his Impeachment, and claim that
they have good ground for such action.
Nh. Rogers recently brought to the State
museum two live mountain rattlesnakes.
Though there may possibly have been
size to be dangerous This Mr.. Rogers,
being a native of the mountains, must
have known, and yet he brought the
snakes here unaccompanied by one single
drop of the antidote for their bite-a
most unfortunate circumstance, and an
Official lapse that cannot be easily over
looked or forgiven.
Mr.. J. F. Jackson, while looking for a
hens nest near his house one day this
week, came near getting his hand on a
very large white oak or poplar leaf
snake. It's fangs were SO long and sharp
he would stick them deep enough in a
stick to almost hold his weight after he
had been shot almost in two.
Empie Wood had a narrow escape
from death at Beaulaville. He was
lying on bed reading a newspaper when
lightning struck the house, the shock
even tearing the paper in his hands. 1t
is a generally believed maxim that a
bed is the safest place in a thunder
storm, and this will sustain the faith Of
believers in traditions.
The Hayesvlle Courier is authority for
this one: Last Friday the lightning
struck a tree near Claud Arnold's house
and Claud went to the tree soon after
and found a large rattlesnake which the
lightning had killed when it struck the
tree
The Seaboard Air Line depot at Ellen
boro was struck by lightning recently
and almost completely wrecked. The
building was literally torn to pieces and
considerable damage resulted. The bolt
OF lightning came during the heavy rain
and wind storm. No one was hurt.
Sid Poteet killed a big rattlesnake at
Glenwood in Mcdowell county, Tuesday.
1t is uncommon for this reptile to be
found so far from the mountains. Sam
Cason says the rattlesnakes have disap-
peared from their usual haunts in the
mountains, and it is suggested that pos
sibly the freshet washed them down upon
the low lands.
The following must be credited to the
Cleveland Star: Lightning struck the
house of Mr.. J. E. Davis, of Sharon, at
6 o'clock Saturday afternoon and follow
ed the lightning rod down the chimney
to the window, where it leaped in the
room through the wall and instantly
killed Johnnie Seay, young man Ia
years old, who was lying on the bed, with
his head near the window. The lightning
leaped to the other bed and splintered
the bod post and ran all over the springs
On the bed. tearing the bed to pieces and
letting it fall to the floor with Mrs. Seay
mother of the young man, who was lying
on the bed sck. Both beds were de-
stroyed and everybody in the house ex-
cept Mr. Esley Davis, was shocked, but
the house was not injured. The window
near the chimney was not open, but the
lightning came through the side OF the
wall, leaving the plastering split open
Mrs. Crigg and Miss Seay were in the
room and their clothing caught fire and
| they ran out and laid down in a puddle
| of water in the yard to put it out. The
| bed clothing was also set on fire."