KILLED BY LIGHTNING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 126, 21 February 1919, Page 4

KILLED BY LIGHTNING

A BUSH TRAGEDY. . By Telegraph-Special Correspondent. 1 Wanganui, February 20; • Additional ■ particulars have been receivec by the police regarding tlie tragic late of Messrs. Wheeler and M'Lean, whose remains were found in the bush at Mangaturoa, near Itaetihi, on Sunflay. The men were working on a survey, and at the time death overtook tu'ein, back in November, they were employed cutting a tr&ck through the bush from one trig-station to another. Judging by the position in which the bodies were round, they had just felled a giant rimn tree when a. violent thunderstorm broke overhead. They took shelter under another large tree, carrying the tools with them. This tree was struck by lightning about thirty' feet from the ground, and the trunk bore, marks where the'eurrent' had travelled downward, ripping tho bark aud burning rubbish around the foot of tho tree. This was blackened,' and it crumbled to the touch. The bodies were too decomposed to showany indication of the manner of death, and it was presumed from' position in which they were found that they were struck by the death-dealing current as they leaned' against the tree. At the inquest ft verdict of accidental, tfeath through being struck by lightning was returned.