Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-02
STRIPPED BY A THUNDERBoLT.
Conductor Bruer Survives Lightning on
a Pixies Peak Train.

A binding flash, loud and sudden
crack of thunder, sensation as or
some one striking you in the face, and
then darkness and Inconsistencies!
That is how it feels to be struck by
lightning. 1t Is the way Art Bruer,
conductor for the Manitou and Pixies
Peak road, who hadlihiS clothing torn
from his body by lightHnfhg last week,
describes the sensation.
Although Bruers clothing was torn
to shreds, his conductors cap removed
from the head, the fleece lining of his
underwear set on fire, and blue streak
burned across his chest from shoulder
to shoulder, he recovered consciousness
a few minutes later and was able to
bring his train from the summit Of
Pixies Peak to the Cog Road station
at Manitou.
There are no tailor shops or hand
down stores on the peak, and
Bruer borrowed Navajo Indian blan-
ket from the curio shop there and per-
formed his duties as conductor while
arrayed like an Indian chief. When
It was learned by the passengers that
he was only slightly burned by the
bolt, they made him the butt OF num-
Der Of good -natured jokes regarding his
impromptu uniform. Bruer has re-
covered from the shock of the light
ming. He was compelled to lay off duty
for several days, while recovering ana
now the only inconvenience he suffers
ia the light pain from the blue streak
left on his body by the electric fluid.
The incident was one Of the most Pc
culiar freaks Of lightning on record.
1t has been known to perform strange
antics, but never before has 1t strip
ped a man completely Of his outer
clothing, tossed his hat into the air,
left an indelible stamp on his body,
rendered him unconscious for a few
minutes, and then left him almost un-
hurt, with no burns except long thin
line Of blue on his chest, and set fire
to the fleece lining Of the underwear
without burning or scorching any other
articles of his wearing apparel. Those
persons who were fortunate enough to
be passengers on the Cog road that
day saw something which has never
before been heard of, and which, IN all
probability, will never be seen again.
It was simply miraculous.
Bruer believes that he was born
lucky. In the present instance this
was better than to have been born
rich. The chances for a mans life be-
ing spared in such a case are so small
| as to be almost infinitesimal. At the
time he was struck by the lightning he
was standing on the steps Of the coach,
holding the brass railing with both
hands, preparing to give the signal for
the train to start on it's journey down
the peak. The passengers were all
aboard, and everything was In readi-
ness for the downward start.
Suddenly there was a binding flash
and a deafening crash Of thunder. A
blue streak of forked lightning shot
across the peak on its way from one
cloud to another. En- route 1t ercoun-
tered the form of Bruer, and his body
formed the circuit which shot the bolt
into the top of Pixies Peak. After the
passengers had recovered from their
momentary fright they saw the inse1-
sible form of Bruer lying on thu
ground.
They hastened to him to pick him up,
as they supposed, dead, when, to their
utter astonishment, he sat upright and
looked bewilderingly about him. t. In
quiries he replied that he was not hurt,
only stunned" but one man discov-
cred that his fleece underwear was
burning. The fire was extinguished
and the Navajo blanket borrowed. The
clothing which had been torn by the
electricity was picked up and brought
| to Manitou.
1t is said that lightning Is much less
dangerous on lofty mountains than on
the plains, and this may have had
great deal to do with the marvellous
escape of Bruer At the same time he
was struck, Superintendent w. j. Per-
ry of the Kansas City, Springfield and
Clinton railroad was with party of
friends on Crystal mountain, near
Florence. They distinctly saw the
flash, and an instant later were slightly
stunned by another bolt. None of the
party was njured.-Colorado Springs
Gazette.