Smyrna times., 1902-07-30
LIGHTNING FIRED STABLE
AND KILLED TWO HORSES
FEARFUL CONFEDERATION ON THE roth.
WELL FARM" OWNED BY E. q. WALLS.
Bolt of Lightning Struck the Center of III.
S'aoIe Through the Hay Loft and Killed a
morse Standing in One of the Stalls.

ShNhutuS U0e OF The Stalls
During a severe electric storm which
visited this vicinity on Friday morn.
ing' lightning struck the stable OF
Edward G. Walls on the "Rotbwell
arm near town tenanted bv Mr.
george FL. Mattiford, killing two
norses and burning the stable and
contents to the ground. The loss en-
Jailed was about 50, 100. The storm
came up about half after eight in the
morning, an unusual time for thunder
Storms, and seemed to be super-charo-
ed with electricity. Mr.. Mattiford
ana his men had been working about
Vne 1arm and seeing the approaching
STORM began to take shelter. The men
went INTO the feed room of the stable
and Mr.. Mattiford went up TO the
mouse. He had not been there but q
lew minutes when there was vivid
nash OF lightning followed bv n terrif,io
peal OF thunder Mr.. Mattiford knew
'na' IL struck somewhere near. and
gong out was met by some of his mep
VINO ran towards him CRYING the
stable was on fire. Attention was inn
medlately turned to saving the live
STOCK. There were thirteen head of
horses and cattle, and when struck a
panic ensued. Lewis Spencer. one of
tne farm hands, heroically went in and
got out all the horses he could Some
OF them broke their halters in tho
fright and in the fearful smoke that
nlleo the burning stable, it was very
dlhcult to drive the animals ont
One horse was killed outright and
another had its eyes torn from their |
sockets and was so burned that it was
shot soon after. The rest of the stock
escaped without INJURY.
Difficulty In Saving the Residence
In the stable were thirty tons of hav
drill, corn planter, set of platforr
scales. dog cart, wagon harness
plough harness and other things
Inese were licked up by the flames
when it was found there was no
chance of saving the stable. every
snort was made TO keep the fire from
spreading, and timely assistance was
given by friends and neighbors who
iad gathered to the number of fiftv or
more at the scene of confagration
through the faithful and heroic
norts OF Messrs. George Rothwell
Vlillam David and others the hav and
'heat crop only short distance awav
'as saved. At one time it was feared y
lat tne residence must go, but the G
ina changed and relieved this dan. :
or. The rain poured in torrents .
nd had 1t not been for this there I
oulu not have been a building left .
andlng on the farm. It was FORUM.
e, therefore, that the fire was con. :,
ned to the one building. The stable =
as one OF the largest and best eouin- =,
I'd IN this vicinity, and accommo. =
tied about thirty stalls. RecentIn :
r. Walls had placed it in good repair Q
1e building and half the hay which .,
as valued at $14OO had only $500 in ~
rance against it. Mr.. Mattiford,s y
SIS which was about $500 was abopt =, ~
ree-quarters insured. ~, M
several In Smyrna Receive Electric Shock W
In Smyrna the storm was very 90 F.
re. Lightning flashes were excead. IS
ely vivid. Several phones in town 45
re burned out, and shocks were felt Al
Mrs. John W. Tucker and Mr. so
aries Montgomery. The latter was 80;
ezing ice cream at the time and tbo do
'ck was great enough to knock him
ensible. He regained conscious.
IS few minutes later. West of p
yton COW was killed on the farm,
John d. Wilson and over a dozan Nov
'phone poles between Clayton and
White House" on the Kepton -
d. was struck by lightning. Elmer i
iris, who lives on Mrs. Dennav,e pi'
n, Just outside of Leipsic. had o Auo
liable COW killed by lightning dnr- ~u'' ~,
the same storm. 0H'
iney Point fruit farm and the resi- 'ne
ce Of DR.. j. L. Cornell was shin siF' s,
mark for the severe electrical w sno
m. DIR. Cornell was away and r. IT.
. Cornell was the guest of neigh aa.a sa
Mrs. Charles @. Wilson, when the 80 esn'
lent occurred. The hghtnino 20 ;as.
ok the barn, firing and DESTROYING 60.
'gether with the shedding and all ,orr,
contents, including driving go =
es, five carriages, half dozen sets s;v.a
Irness and an entire crop of hay. I;na
on Friday afternoon. 49,
X the barn of Mrs. Gideon Roth. ~ho.
near Collins Beach causing des- ~as;. "as.
ion of all the outbuildings and the d.. s,l'
ms crops. The loss will exceed ron,l
Q, which is covered by insurance. boni,
ne live stock was saved. l;ns