The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-28
TREE HALvED ny LIGHTNING.

at the same hour OF the afternoon. !
o'clock. the second barn was destroyed
by thunderbolt.
The Methodist Church OF Bridgevllc
Del. had already been struck twice IN
the summer of 1909. and workmen had
hardly finished repairing the damage
early In July when it was struck the
third time After that the pastor had
to adjourn the services when fourth
storm found the worshipers in their
pews. Otherwise he would have
preached TO empty benches.
About the same time the house OF
W. e Rail. a homestcaAer of Chaves
county y. NJ, was struck a dozen times
during n single storm. Each stroke
hitting the house shocked separate
member of the family which numbered
thirteen pcople-in this case surely un-
lucky. especially inasmuch as one OF
the inmates We're killed The last dozen
bolts hitting the house fell about n
minute apart and the last one set the
building on fire. although the flames
We're cNtinguishod before great damage
was done.
IN Genoa there is church. St. Mary's.
which has been struck by lightning
scores OF times. frequently twice in the
same year. and it was discovered that
the lightning. after hitting the splre
=
the walls We're clamped with iron.
Joyc', Fnvorite Targets.
But We do not have to go abroad in
search of such edihccs highly pre-
ferred by Jove as target for his fiery
darts. In Washington thero are tho
Capitol and Washington Monument,
each of which is commonly struck Sow
cral times each summer.
In front of tho entrance to the House
# 90 IA Sc =
den tree which upon nve distinct occa-
sions has been struck by lightning
glancing off the Capitol dome We'll
defined grooves In the trunk of the
tree are an that 4, displays as evi-
dence Of It's III fortune. some years
ago "A thunderbolt that struck the great
dome ricocheted to tho plaza below
to the ground and the driver hurled
forty feet from the vehicle. but neither
was seriously injured
Five times IN twenty minutes an i'm
mense bolt OF lightning was seen to
fash between tho Washington Monu-
ment and thunder cloud overhead on
April :. 1855. And, having escaped this
severe bombardment unscathed. the
great obelisk was damaged by single
bolt descending June Is OF the same
year.
such instances where tall Buildings
arc often struck aro not so remarkable
however. In comparison with those tn
which particular localities are repeat.
edly bomhardcd by the celestial artu-
lory Thus. on the outskirts of Mime
arpols is what Is locally called the
lightning road" so termed because Of
tho frequency with which trees. cattle.
horses ard people unon It have been
struck by thundcrholts a more ia
nous case is that Of Ncgn do Sunia. i'm
New Grenada. whore no one can be in
duced to build n house. this prejudice
being due to fear OF tho lightning.
which has assaiied the region so per-
sistently, Year after year. that the
rocks have been converted into mag
nets.
Struck Six Times and Lives.
People as we'll as huildings and trees
have dehed this same old proyerb about
lightrings not striking twice in the
same place Charles Hines. farmer
Of Dutch Neck. y. j.. is reported 10
aSgs ssfs A drs .irus as' bS
when he was a lad Of hfteen. and while
he was sitting In tho stern OF row
boat hshing, with his feet danBline
In the water. The bont WAS reduced IL
scraps. bu. he was unscathed. few
years later. while walking railroad
! track. a thUnderbolt hurled him into
! the air md left him hanging over a
I stone wall at the ago OF twenty
three. while he was In church another
bolt reduced the pew In which he sat
to matchwood. tore his trousers iatc
! ribbons. ripped his shoes on HIS feet