Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1893 — HEAVEN’S ARTILLERY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HEAVEN’S ARTILLERY

MANY VICTIMS OF LIGHTNING'S DEADLY BOLTS. ’•nr Two Hundred a Teat Killed In This * Country Examples of Fatalities One Found to Hare Extraordinary Tracings an His Body. Work of Deadly Fluid. Last year over 200 persons were killed by lightning in the United States alone, and it is believed the electric bolt is yearly responsible for more than 1,000 deaths throughout the earth. From 1885 to 1892 2,270 were killed by it in Russia and Eu-

rope. During the same period 1,700 Were destroyed in Austria. Deaths from this cause are also numerous in France. During a recent wide-spread storm In this country, it was demonstrated that lightning seeks its victims pretty much everywhere, even where precaution is taken to avoid its deadly flashes. In Gloversville, N. Y., it smote a young horseman, named Fred Peek, instantly killing him and the animal which carried him. The storm had ceased, and the fatal stroke came from an almost clear sky —an extraordinary occurrence. In New York City, Martin Camp-

bell and Edward B. Newell, of Brooklyn, sought shelter from the storm under a huge rock at One Hundred »nd Sixty-fifth streets. The opening extended ten feet from the entrance and such a refuge would ordinarily be considered safe. But Campbell was killed and Newell made unconscious by a bolt. On examining Campbell's body it was found profusely marked with scarlet lines covering the breast, thigh and hip His neck was encircled by a crimson cord

which resembled a crown of thorns. Across the whites of the eyes were brown lines. Such tracing was never before seen by New York physicians, tnd an eminent physician declared that the thunder-bolt never hit the young man. He was killed by the Intense magnetic field it created. These rocks were full of iron and attracted the electricity. An intensely strong magnetic field was formed. The capulia or nerve center at the

base of the brain was instantly affected and death was instantaneous. The other man’s life was saved by bis falling from his position and out of the magnetic field. Probably an instant more would have killed him. Had the bqlt struck Campbell he would have been charred beyond jgcognition. On Long Island, N. Y., James Car-

lin was killed at bis home in Chester Park, and the doctors who examined him said that death could not have been more instantaneous had Mr. Carlin sat in an electrical chair. He was lying on a lounge in the back

parlor when struck. The lounge stood next to a window which was closed Close to It was a conductor from the roof. The lightning was carried down this, tore its way through scattering lath and plaster,

ran through Mr. Carlin from head to foot, flew around the room, swept through the kitchen by an open door, and thence passed through another open door to the yard, where it buried itself in the ground, after leaving a burned track through the house. The house was afire in a moment, hut the flames were extinguished by Mrs. Carlin and her two boys after superhuman work. They were horror stricken when they discovered Mr. Carlin was killed. His body was black where the lightning passed across him. His wife was always afraid of lightning She shut every window when the storm broke, and sat in fear and trembling, as was her.custom on such occasions. Her husband was absolutely fearless of lightning. . The conductor pipe stopped three feet from the ground. Had it been carried to the surface it would not have entered the house and the killing would not have taken place. In Russia, in Northern New York, Edward Fletcher, a farmer, while loading hay was instantly killed. The steel tines of the pitchfork attracted the lightning, which, after passing through Mr. Fletcher, shocked his son, who was assisting him. The horses ran away and the hay took fire and was consumed. Neither horses nor wagon bore marks of the bolt. In Nebraska a family named Carney shut themselves up in a room on the approach of the'storm, and when It broke the family were kneeling in prayer. While in this attitude the head of the family was killed by the fiery fluid, while those about him escaped with slight injuries.

KILLED ON HORSEBACK.

LIGHNING MARKS ON CAMPBELL'S BREAST.

THE CURRENT FOUND THEM IN A CAVE.

FATAL AS THE ELECTRIC CHAIR.

KILLED IN THE HAYFIELD.

DEATH WHILE AT PRAYER.