The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-27
An ELECTRIC BOLT
Killed John Cooper on the
Porch of His House.
IT SHOT STRAIGHT DOWN
Tearing the Shoes Off and
Killing Him Instantly

John Cooper was struck b. lightning
during the rain storm yesterday morning
and instantly killed. He was standing on
his porch when the electric bolt struck
him. Death was instantaneous.
John Cooper was a gardener who came
here from Kingman county last year.
his family consisted Of himself, wife and
three children, the Oldest OF whom IS
grown and lives At Blackwell. o. T. His
name Is William Cooper. The other chill
dren are small.
Air. Cooper purchased a piece Of ground
on the west side OF the Zig Arkansas,
about half q mile south Of the fair
grounds. where he lived and raised his
garden. ]. .. Ward. neighbor Of the
Coopers. called yesterday morning and
during the rain storm he and Mr.. Cooper
sat IN the house talking. When the heav-
Test part OF the rain was over a few han
began to fan and Mr.. Cooper remarked
10 his friend and reighbor that he would
90 out and cover UP his sweet potato
plants and tomatoes.
lie walked out on the porch and stopped
30 look around. wlen thsre was a terrific
clap Of thunder and when the inmates Of
the house recovered from the shock they
saw Mr.. Cooper lying motionless on the
porch They ran to him and found that
life was extinct The lightning had
struck his head and ran down his right
side. and the shoe on his right foot was
torn 10 fragments. Word was at once
sent to the city and a dispatch was sent
to William Cooper az Blackwell, telling
him Of the death Of his father.
John Cooper was an Industrious man
and was well spoken of by his nelghbors.
He bought his little home here and was
working to make a living FOR himself and
family. Some OF the Woodmen said yes
ter6ay that he was a member OF that or
gsnization and carried an insurance OF
2.o0Q for the benefit OF his family.
From the best information Il was learn
ed that Mr.. Cooper was killed about The
time that the lightning struck the Ger
man Evangelical church in the city.
People instinctively thought that the loud
clap q thunder must have been serious TO
somebody. and until the report OF the
death q 1fr. Cooper reached the city
there were frequent inquiries as 70 what
damage had been done by the lightning
At one time a report was on the street
that somebody had been killed near the
German church. but the report was soon
learned 70 be nl-founded-
Some Of the people on the West SIDE
said that the lightning south Of the
Wichita and Western track seemed to
come straight down from the clouds and
that was a sure sign that It had struck
the ground somewhere. Some Of the old /
settlers say when the lightning seems TO /
slant along the sky there is no danger. /
bur when It dropped straight from the /
clouds it meant death and destruction.
In speaking OF the matter 1Tr T. D. /
Ward Of South Topeka avenue said that /
he and Cooper had rented piece Of /
ground nearby and had made arrange
ments 20 list It to corn; that he had /
gone to the Cooper place about o'clock l
and when the storm came UP had tied /
his team under a tree to wire fence /
and had gone into the house with Coop /
er; that while they were in there that the /
first bolt Of lightning that descended /
struck the ground near the house and |
the inmates were shook up a little. but 4
not injured; that Cooper said he guessed /
be had better so out and cover mp the /
hot bed and that he Cgvard) followed with 1
the intention or BeLl4l5 ms A9tecs out \
from under the tree. Cooper had Just 4
stepped OF the step Of the porch when /
there came loud report similar TO that I
made by q small cannon. There was a 1
vivid binding fash and Cooper threw I
up his arms and felI Ike a log. Ward 4
ran to him but he was dead before he /
could get him onto the porch. The bolt 4
from the heavens had electrocuted him /
Al struck him right on top Of the head, /
tearing his hat 70 pieces and burning j
his hair and making a hole IN the 1
skull Hike one from the bullet Of a /
pistol The lightning passed down his /
body and came out at his right heel /
leaving q mark or the foot about the size }
OF q ten cent piece and tearing his shoe /
all 10 pieces Ward got him into the 1
hcase and laid him on the bed and arm 4
ed the neighbors and when several Of 1
them came in they assisted him Il wash /
ing and dressing the body. 1fr. Ward 1
then came TO Wichita and notified the 4
coroner Of the fatality
The funeral VIII take place from the 4
Presbyterian church at Clearwater at
1l-s5 q. m Sunday.
-I- PAIN nEcrENDEn