Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1881 — An Extraordinary Accident. [ARTICLE]

An Extraordinary Accident.

A letter to the Charleston, 8. C. News and Courier from the western part of Darlington county, South Carolina, gives an account of a terrible and extra* ordinary casualty from lightning. On Thursday afternoon a group of twenty men, all white, working on the publichighway, stopped under an oak tree tn rest and shelter themselves from the sun. Clouds were visible at a distance and rain was falling some miles away, but in the immediate locality the sun was shining, the sky was dear, and nothing indicated the presonoe of electricity. One of their number had stepped off a few yards for water, when suddenly a terrific crash startled him, and turning he beheld his companions, some dead, acme completely paralysed, and others wounded and struggling in the throes of death. J. M. Mazingo, Rufus Mazingo, Willie Watteis and John B. Gatlin were killed outright These were all young men, recently married. Twelve others were stuck and more or lees stunned and mutilated. Some are probably fatally injured. There was heavy fall of rain about an hour later, k