The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-30
LIGHTNING FLASHES.
Peculiar Effects Where Instant Death
Follows Their Strokes.


A peculiar feature about lightning.
when it strikes TO kill, is the incredibly
short time in which the body decom-
poses. In many notable instances
where persons were killed by light
ming the funeral has been conducted
with all the haste possible, owing to
the rapid disorganization of the body.
Whether it be animal or human, the
same effect is 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-
taneous that there is not the slightest
change in the muscles, and in many
cases the blood is entirely deorganized
and becomes an adhesive black liquid,
which in a few seconds has taken on
a putrid odor.
In one case some reaperS were eat
ing their dinner under an oak tree
during a thunderstorm, and all were
struck by lightning, the explosion of
which was heard far away.
When later some people passed the
tree the reapers were in the act Of
eating dinner to all appearances. One
putting piece of bread in his mouth,
while a third had his hand in q dish.
Death had come upon them when the
thunderbolt 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 a man had
taken refuge under a tree and was
eating lunch. He had a small dog
In his lap and was caressing him with
one hand while he offered him a piece
Of bread with the other Both the
man and dog were petrified while in
this position, and the paralyzed 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 all |
were melted in a gelatinous mass, and |
her frame had so fuidified that they |
were unable to discern the outlines of |
her limbs
Several instances have occurred where |
persons strucl4Iby lightning have, upon
being touched. Immediately fallen to
the whole interior of the body |
being burned out so that only the skin
remained.
In many other cases the decompos-
ting gases SO extend the abdomen as
to cause the body to explode within
very few minutes after life has passed
out. and the body resembles that of o
person dead for weeks.
1t is indeed terrifying to see person
cease moving who Just second before
was in the full enjoyment of life. and
what is a still greater mystery is to
see them stand in apparent life and
action. but to find them to be a petri-
fed, inert piece of decomposing mat
ter.
There is one peculiar case, where
man was driving along a country road
during thunderstorm. He saw
start to cross the road a little
ahead of the horse. The woman walk
d TO the middle of the road and stop
bed. In vain the driver called to her
20 get out of the way. and at last, be
coming angry. he gave her a cut with
he whip as be passed, when to his
she fell to the ground in
| char of cinders.
She had been struck by lightning and
her entire body consumed. while her
clothing remained intact.-Denyer Post
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