The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-20
MISS HELEN KNEEN
DEFlED LIGHTNING.

TyEN a. Ajax once dsned the lightning
| 30 did Miss Helen Louise Kneen OF
Derby, Conn. the other day. anc
with equal success. How she survived the
shock which caused women to faint and
strong man to grow pale Is still a matter
OF admirtnE wonder TO her friends. while the
young woman lAughingly treats her expert
ence a. only one OF many interesting Incl
dents In her short but bright career.
II was at the graduation exercises OF the
class OF 1901 OF the Derby High School that
TIE thrilling incident occurred which Is still
the talk OF that region Of the Nutmeg
State"
On the stage OF the Sterling opera-house
thirteen pupils had gathered TO receive
diplomat The prominence OF thirteen, CO.
Incident with q Friday, had not been re-
gsrded as destitute OF significance by many
among the audience OF LOO persons. and
not q few experienced a decidedly I'M
operA-houss as they saw black and anSry
clouds and heard the rumbling OF distant
thunder. But once inside they applaudsd
the thirteen pupils with enthusiasm
The nrst number OF the programme, q
chorus by . hundred school children. had
stepped forward TO deliver the valedsctory
address U~ndismayed by the rattle OF CO.
lestial artillery and the vivid flasher OF
lightning. she began:
1n9 evening OF Ih9 lsIn OF Juno Is here
and SO are we, with our decorations our
fresh white dresses. our immaculats shirt
boSoms, our patent feathers. But one dread
ful fear Expresses US. We are thirteen In
number. here on the 18th OF the month, and
on = Friday. too What dreadful thing 70
TO befall us7 Is II any wonder that We are
On the pins and needles OF apprehensionr-
"Bangi- went a thundercIap.
Having reached her peroration. Miss
kneen had warmed % tmpressfvely 20 Asr
subject that she stood with upllftsd hand
and the words nothing to blast upon her
lips WHEN the oruaa test Of her nerve 90
CURED
Like q comet In q clear SKY, q BAN OF
IRE shot through an open window and for
q second seemed to poiss upon Miss Rnesn's
finger tips. while the audience sat SPELL
bound with horror. Several pupils on the
tier Of seats directly behind Misc Rnsen
tainted
People could not grasp ne situation An
thsy thought was that . young girl had
been struck By lightning and nlsht die BE-
fore their syek Women gaaSd On the sight,
terror stricken beyond the power Of action
The coolest ealmsst person In the houss
was Miss Kneen- sun standing with up
lifted arm. she watched the ball Of FIRE roll
away from her. and after pursuing q
serpentins course. disappear at the other
end OF the stage.
las a was saying continued Miss Knesn
but nc one heard her. Physicians and
Others were hurryinE to the Assistance Of
those who had tainted. No enc was ~serious-
ly hurt. and the displacement Of a few
bricks Of the building was the only damage
wrought by the electrical nuid.
When. 4 moment later. Miss Kneen con-
cluded her address and took her seat, the
audience had recovered It's composure sur
hcisntly to vent its admiration for the
brave young girl in an outburst OF applause
which was continued for several minutes.
Miss Kneen Is a brunette Of medium
hAisht II ysAns ola. Many eelIsys nat bot