Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1902 — Cattle Killed By Lightning. [ARTICLE]

Cattle Killed By Lightning.

The biggest slaughter of cattle by lightning that has oocured in Jasper county since Tom Randle lost ten head, with one stroke, several years ago, took place Sunday afternoon. The cattle belonged to Geo. H. Maines, who lives a mile north of town. During the thunder storm Sunday, about one p. m., a stroke of lightning killed eight head. There were 5 three year olds, 1 two-year rid and 2 calves in the bunch that was killed. They all stood near a wire fence, and the lightning probably struck the fence, but no mark of where it Struck can be found, nor could any mark be found on the cattle. It ocoured about half a mile north of Mr. Maines’ house, and there were 45 or 50 head of cattle in the pasture. One other big steer was stunned but will probably recover.

They were good cattle and Milt and Sam Roth, who went out Sunday evening and skinned them, say the bunch was easily worth 9400. No doubt the cattle were killed instantly, and two of them were thrown clear over the fence by the force of the stroke.