The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-09-19
LIGHTNING FLASHES.
Peculiar Effects Where Instant Destb
Follows Their Strokes.

A peculiar feature about lightning.
| when II strikes to kill, Is the incredibly
short time in which the body decom-
poses. In many notable Instances
wi, ere persons were killed by light.
ming the funeral has been conducted
with all the haste possible, owing 20
the rapid dlsorganlzation NJ the body.
Whether II be animal or human the
same effect IL always noticeable. In
most cases on record where persons
have been struck by lightning and
Instantly killed their features show
no visible pain. and death Is so instan-
tancous that there Is not the slightest
change ia the muscles. and In many
cases the blood is entirely ieorganlzcd
and becomes an adhesive black liquid.
which IN few seconds has taken on
| a pvtrid odor.
In one case some reapers were eat
ing their dinner under an oak tree
during Thunderstorm, and all were
struck by lightning. the explosion OF
which was heard far away.
When later some people passed the
Tree the rcapers were I'm the act of
eating dinner to all appearances. one
held glass I'm his hand. another was
putting piece OF bread I'm his mouth.
while third had his hand I'm dish
Death hpd come upon them when the
thundcrbolt fell while they were in
these positions. one might have TAX
en- them for statues carved out OF
black marble for their bodies were
perfectly black.
Another case was where man had
taken refuge under tree and was
eating n lunch. lie had n small dog
IN his lap and wns carcssing him with
one hand while he offered him Il piece
Of bread with the other. Both the
man and dog were pctrlfied while I'm
this position. and the parnlyzed hand
still held the piece of bread. while the
expression on the animals face
| seemed To say, Give me some more
please give me some more"
In one case where woman was
struck by lightning the bones and al
wero melted In a gelatinous mass. and
her frame had so huidifed that they
wore VI able to discern the outlines OF
her limbs.
Several instances have occurred where
persons struck by lightning have, upon
being touched, Immediately fallen to
cinders. the whole interior Of the body
being burned out 30 that only the skin
remained.
In many other cases the decompos.
Ing gases 40 extend the abdomen as
to cause the body to explode within a
very few minutes after life has passed
| out and the body resembles that of q
person dead for weeks.
1t "a indeed terrifying to Gee a person
cease moving who Just a second before
was in the full enjoyment OF life. and
what Is n still greater mystery IL to
SEQ them stand In apparent life and
action. but to find them to be petri
| fed. inert piece OF decomposing mat
| ter.
There IL one peculiar case, where n
man was driving along n country road
during II thunderstorm. He saw q
woman start to cross the road a little
ahead OF the horse. The woman walk
ell to the middle of the road and stop
| ped. In vain the driver called to her
| to get out of the way, and Mt last, he
coming angry. he gave her cut with
the whip ~ he passed. when TO his
astonishment she fell TO the ground in
a char of cinders.
| She had been struck by lightning and
| her entire body consumed. while her
clothing remained intact.--Denver Post
Nov, and In ths MiddIe Aoes