STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 229, 4 March 1875, Page 3

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

The Ben&igo Advertiser mentions among the incidents of the great storm which visited Victoria recently, that " at about a quarter to 2 o'clock the North Sandhurst Common School, Irishtown, was struck by lightning. The head master, Mr Reid, hearing the angry roar of thunder, and observing the threatening watery clouds hanging overhead, was proceeding towards the main entrance of the school for the purpose of calling in the children. He had just about reached the porch when a very vivid flash of lightning seemed to enter the school building. He was knocked partly insensible against the side of the building, where he remained about a minute before he was able to move. On collecting himself, he felt a dizziness in his head, and a peculiar tingling sensation throughout his body. Some of the children who were inside the school were screaming, because it appears that the school had been struck by lightning, demolishing a chimney stack to within about 3ft from the surface. Upon Mr Reid recovering from the shock which hehadreceived, and going outside he found that three boys had been struck by lightning. One of them named M'Donogh was struck on the left cheek, on which a nasty cut was inflicted. He was standing near the porch which he was about to enter when he received the stroke. Fortunately for Mr Reid he did not reach the outer side of the porch, or he would undoubtedly have been struck by the electric fluid. Another boy named Pastock, who was standing on the south end of the building, also received a stroke. His injuries were of a more serious character, and his escape from instantaneous death was very narrow. He was knocked senseless, his left side was completely paralysed, and when taken into the school he was very livid. A third boy named Prince had his right shoulder partly paralysed at the same time. He was only standing a short distance away from Pastock, who was near a water tank getting a drink. The lads were removed to their homes without delay, where medical assistance was procured for them. Except in the case of young Pastock, the injuries of the boys were seemingly not of a serious character, though all of them complained of very violent headaches."