Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1860-07-25 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DEATH FROM LIGHTNING.-011 Thursday afternoon last, between half-past 4 and 6 o'clock, a sharp thundeistorm, accompanied with heavy- showers of rain, passed over Leeds and the neighbourhood. Some ot' the flashes of lightning were very vivid, and the noise of the thunder waa sometimes heard almost at the same moment that the lightning was visible, thus indicating the very close proximity of the storm. Happily little or no damage to property was caused, but a very melancholy event happened in connexion with the storm. A number of men in the employ of Messrs. Kitson and Hewitson, at the Airedale FoundrbPottery-field, Hdnelet, were engaged in removing a pile of ashes and other rubbish from an open epaoe of ground near the foundry. One of the men, named William Neptune, under whose direction the work was conducted, was standing upon the mound and loosening the rubbish with a pickaxe, when, at a few minutes past 5 o'clock, a flash of lightning, no doubt ettraated by tho iron head of the axe, struck the unfortunate man and killed him instantaneously. The electric fluid burnt off his whiskers, singed all his hair, rent his clothes asunder, and set fire to them. A person living in the neighbourhood, who rushed to the spot immediate!: afterwards, found that the deceased's shirt was burning, and that his breast and other portions of his body, from which his clothes had been torn, were quite naked. The unfortunate man's eyes and mouth were open, but his features were not distorted, mid, what is a very singular circumstance, there was no mark about his body (beyond I the marks of slight burning) showing that the lightning had struck him. The deceased, who resided at 75, Bed- ' 'ford-row, Hunslet, has left a wife and two children. He bad been a considerable time in the employment of Messrs. I Kitson, having been a platelayer for nine years, and recently appointed an engine tender. Four or five other men were engaged in removing the mound of rubbish at 1 the time that the accident occurred, but none of them were hurt. Another man, named Hardy, who was standling a short distance off with a cart and horse, was struck Iby the'lightning, and had his right arm paralyzed. He I is, however, progressing favourably. It is supposed that the. lightning had been attracted towards him by the "harem " of the horse gearing. CHILD POISONING, ANIkATTEMPTED Srmins.—Much excitement has been occasioned in the hamlet of Neyland Common by the poisoning of an infant by laudanum by its mother, and two attempts by the letter to commit suicide. It appears that a Mrs. Silverwood, who is reepectably connected and resides at Methley Bar, I was confined on Sunday week, and was progressing,toI wards recovery when she was overtaken on Wednesday Ilast with a profound impression that she would not recover. On that day she sent a little boy down stairs for a bottle containing laudanum. It was brought up when she gave the infant several drops and took the remainder herself, saying, they would both go together." The child was taken ill, and Mr. Allott, surgeon, called in, but his efforts to save the elifid were fruitless ; it , died the following morning. After the death of the child, Mrs. Silvergood (the laudanunt not having been sufficiently powerful) attempted to cut her throat, but luckily assistance was at hand to prevent her. The medical gentleman, we understand, has given it as his I opinion that the unfortunate woman is insane.