FATAL EFFCTS OF THE RECENT THUNDERSTORM IN ENGLAND.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 61, 10 August 1874, Page 3

FATAL EFFCTS OF THE RECENT THUNDERSTORM IN ENGLAND.

(From the *• European Mail.”) During the raging of the storm on May 25th, a number of people in the Hackney Marshes and the neighborhood took refuge at the White House and the White Hart, Temple Mills. In the gardens of the latter house there is an old tree of gigantic dimensions, which has had fitted up iu its branches seats and tables, upon which refreshments are served, the approach to which is by a ladder. Under this tree an old man and his grandchild were standing when the first flash of lightning occurred. It struck the man to the ground dead, and severely injured the child. The extent of the catastrophe was not known for some time, when the body of the old man was taken up and conveyed to the Hackney deadhouse, and the child, who is six years of age, was removed to the workhouse. The lightning appears to have struck the latter on the shoulder, and to have passed straight down his right side to the calf of the leg. The old man was struck on the head, his hat being cut into ribbons, except the brim, which was uninjured. His hair and whiskero are scorched, and his clothing is burnt through, but his features are not in any way distorted. Two volunteers—a corporal and a private—were struck down by lightning whilst attending the annual meeting of the 3lst Battalion R. S. Volunteers at Beechworth Park, Aldershot, The corporal, it is feared, will lose his sight. The storm raged with great violence over the neighborhood of Aylesbury, Tring, and Berkhampstead. Such a hailstorm has not been known at the latter place for years. The back premises of Mr Ginger, Fieldsend Farm, near that town, were struck with lightning, and the whole of the farm produce and buildings were destroyed. Damage was done to the amount of several thousand pounds.—At East Mailing, near Maidstone, a number of men were engaged in a game at cricket with the East Mailing Club, and after a few overs had been bowled rain put a stop to the play. The party took shelter in the scoring tent, and soon afterwards a shock was felt, two men within the tent exclaiming that they were hurt. On emerging from the tent, a man and a boy were found lying dead beneath a tree twelve paces distant, under which they had taken shelter. The tree had been struck by lightning, and the bark was stripped off for a considerable distance down the trunk. The two other men, who appeared to be injured internally, were; removed lo Maidstone.