The age-herald., 1901-08-16
LIGHTNING INFESTED MAN.
So Susceptible to Electricity That lie
 Lives in a Glass Room.

Buffalo Correspondence Milwaukee Sem
 tinel
 Prenatal influence has produced re- mareable condition in Henry G. Watkins of Appleton, Wia, who has been for 0 week visiting the Pan-American Exposi- tion He started for his home last even ing dissatisfied with his visit.
 Tt isn't your exposition that makes me dissatisfied: it's your weather" he said today. And it isn't altogether your weather, either; it's mostly myself. I'm the most miserable man you ever saw, and have been since your thunder storm on Friday night. I'm not in the least rheumatic, but I feel as if I had rheu- matism in every part of my body.
 My mother was struck by lightning two months before was born," contn- ued MT. Watkins. Tt did not kill her. but 1t prostrated her for over a week. That calamity brought me into the world with a birthmark. I have marks resem- bling chain lightning on my back. The birthmark has never troubled me, but the shock my mother received also im- parted to me what might be called a constitutional birthmark. I honestly be- lieye have lightning in my system. You may not believe me, but it's the truth, that l can tell with my eyes closed and my ears stopped up when I am near a dynamo or any electrical machinery. I wouldn't go riding in an electric car when a thunder storm is coming up. and you couldn't hire me to go near a telephone in rainy weather. once received a shock that unstrung my nerves for days, by telephoning during a thunder storm, and several times I have had slight strokes while riding in trolley cars Each day l visited your exposition carefully refrained from going into your Electric ity building, because, even when the weather is fine, and no danger of storm coming up, feel the influence of cleo tricity where it is abundant, and, though In such weather 1t does not affect me seriously, 1t worries me.
 As for thunderstorms, they are the bane of my hfe At home keep track of the weather predictions each day, and If thunderstorm Is predicted I do not go to my office. I remain at home shut up tight in my library, which had specially constructed on account of my peculiar condition. It's walls are made of two rows Of brick, with plate glass between them Glass being non-conductor, am safe in that room in the worst kind of a storm II thunderstorm comes up unexpectedly during the day while I am at my office, l lock myself in my private office, which is similarly constructed.
 1 hardy dared to come to the expoei- ton. In fact am always afraid to go any distance from home, for fear an electric otoi may OfSTLdke me. But l took the chance for the sake of seeing your big show and now-well, I'm sorry I didn' t follow the distates of my better Judgment. was on the esplanade last Friday night when felt the storm coming I can tell without fail when an electric storm is coming fully an hour in advance. I feel prickly sensation through my body, par ticularly along my spine. knew I would suffer terribly If did not get away from the exposition grounds before the storm came, because there Is so much electric apparatus around. So hurried out of the grounds. I wouldn't take a trolley car. and l knew I couldn't ts get back to my hotel by walking before the storm came. The only thing left for me was the belt line. l had to wait fifteen minutes for that. The result was I didn't get to my hotel before the storm came. walked from the station In 1t. My salses 1t was terrible storm. And how I suffered.
 ''I was fairly staggering and ready to fall when reached my room and locked my self in. suffered intensely all during the storm and through most of the night. On Saturday l was better, but still suffered some. didn't go near the exposition. I was better this morning but still in no mood to leave the hotel. There is still cleo tricity in the air, and wouldn't be caught here in another storm for a good deal. So I've done allsthe exposition seeing I'm going to do, and the sooner get home the better I'll like It."