Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1874 — Baptized With Fire—A Very Singular Case of Lightning. [ARTICLE]

Baptized With Fire—A Very Singular Case of Lightning.

Amanda Plumer is the name of a young colored girl who litres in the suburbs of this city. She takes in washing and docs general work. During the storm of last Saturday evening she started to take home a washing which she had that day done up for a family livingin the eastern part of the town. The thunder and lightning v. ere raging furiously, and the girl hurried on with her bundle, but when within about fifty yards of her destination she was struck to the earth by a streak of lightning, and would probably have lain there some time had not Mr. Jacob Clinton, a farmer who lives some five miles east of here, found her as he was returning home and brought her back to town. Proper restoratives were at once applied and under their influence she soon revived. On examination of her person it was found that she was not dangerously injured, though the fiery element had miraculously dealt with her. The bolt struck her on the head, imbedding the hair-pins which she wore in the scalp, burning her fair coat of wool from the crown of her headjo the back of her neck, then spreading over her breast and shoulders, burning her steel corset and underclothing into bullet wadding. The molten liquid passed down her body into her shoes and stockings, bursting them into shreds, nothing being left but the heels and soles. Her body was burnt in several places, the skin torn about the ankles and several of her toes being charred so much that the skin burst. It was a strange and fearful shock, and- it is almost miraculous that she escaped with her life. The girl is rapidly recovering from her injuries, but will ever be a little shaky on the subject of thunder and lightoi ng.— Rolla (Mo.) Herald.