The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-08-13
QUEER LIGHTNING FREAKS.
A Child Turned Into a Barometer
And A Man Has A Crucif1x On
His Back.

The Philadelphia Pa, Ledger, of July 80,
says:-Bright eyed little George Parker, the
3-month- son of Thomas Parker. hunts.
man for Charles E. Mather, of Haverford,
Penn, seems human barometer.
When a thunderstorm is approaching it is
heralded by the child, who becomes dark
about the head and face while its little lips or.
dinarily healthy pink, turn a dark purple.
Several days ago the child was rendered uncon-
scious by an electric shock, and since then its
condition has caused much comment in the
vicinity of the home of its parents at Lenape,
four miles from West Chester The home of
the Parker family nestles on hillside in a
clump of trees opposite Lenape Park The
electric bolt which caused the baby's mishap
struck an oak tree late at night, about 200
yards distant from the house.
At the time the little one was in bed with
its mother A binding flash of lightning filed
the bedroom on the first floor of the house and
awakened Mrs. Parker. When the child be-
gan to cry she arose, and was Mortified when
she discovered that the pretty white face OF
her baby had turned black. Mr.. Parker was
called and went for physician, who ordered
the removal of the child to the Chester County
Hospital. Early next morning George was
carried to the hospital. For two days he was
puzzle to the physicians and nurses. Finally
its face was restored to a normal white. and
it was taken to It's parents home. 1t is sup
posed that a slight shock of electricity passed
through the frai body and had an effect on
the blood. This is the only solution of the
phenomenon reached by the physicians at the
hospital
When the child had been at home two days
Mrs. Parker noticed it turning dark about the
face. She feared it was about to return to the
condition it was in after the lightning illumi.
mated the bedroom. II was decided to return
to the hospital with the baby, when a thunder
storm came along and caused a postponement.
The child's lips also turned purple, and the
parents were much alarmed. During the
storm the child cried, and several remedies
were resor;ed to without effect.
Shortly after the storm passed over the baby
became quiet, and when the bright sun peeped
out from behind cloud the discoloration OF
the face aud lips began TO disappear. Grad
ualy the black and purple colors faded away,
and in about an hour the face had resumed lis
normal white. A second storm arose in a DAY
or two, and at its approach the child again
became black and purple. Then it dawned
on the parents that their little one had through
the effect of the electric bolt become a baron
eter in human form.
NEw YoRK, August 5.-A dispatch TO the
New York Herald from Morristown, n. j.,
says:
Lightning has played many pranks, but sell
dom anything as marvellous as the case OF Abb
bolt Parker has been brought to the attention
of doctors. In heavy shower this afternoon
Theodore Armstrong, of Mount kemble
avenue, heard heavy clap of thunder. and
running to his front window saw a man lying
fat upon his face across the sidewalk, with his
coat torn from the right shoulder down the
back He notified All Souls Hospital aud
Dr. ]. B. Griswold started for the scene while
the ambulance was being ordered.
The doctor found the man unconscious,
with large sireaks over bis back He WAS
taken to the hospital. There the streaks on
his back began to assume the form OF a cross.
As the doctors watched the transformation
the figure began to grow more distinct and
soon the image of Christ nailed TO the cross
appeared The nails on the hands and feet
we're as plain as if they had been painted.
The wound in the side can be seen and the
blood dripping from the wound as IT il had just
been inflicted. Upon the head Of Christ APP
pears the crown OF thorns.
Surrounding the cross are streaks which re-
mind one of the many pictures Of the hour
when the earth was darkened. The cross,
which is in the center Of the mans back. ex
tends uoNn tne spiaa4 column 10 AhChsss an
could not have been placed in the center bet
ter By artificial means. The erosspiece to
which the figure hangs extends from one
shoulder blade to the other. At the foot Of
the cross are two large scars which have the
appearance of rocks.
At $50 p. N Parker was able TO sit ~ in
bed, and by the aid Of two mirrors and can.
dies he saw the picture on his back. be iel
back on his pillow weeping and declared he
could not understand il.