STRUCK BY LIGHTING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 346, 18 March 1911, Page 7

STRUCK BY LIGHTING.

One of the strangest pranks to which lightning is addicted is that of undressing its victims, in which diversions it displays considerably more than do many human beings or animals. For example, a woman in a country district was caught in a thunderstorm, and was struck by a flash of lightning, which completely stripped her oE and destroyed her clothes and boots, without injuring her in the slightest degree, and she was wrapped up in a blanket and conveyed to the nearest village, where she quickly recovered from the shock. A similar instance occurred in France a few years ago. A woman and two young girls were standing round a reaping machine, when a flash of lightning struck madame and killed her on the spot, while the two girls suffered no inconvenience, beyond having every particle of their clothing removed from their bodies. Otherwise they were safe, sound —and astonished. During a severe storm which took place in 1901 twenty crows took refuge in an empty stable. Suddenly a flash of lightning entered by the open door and killed exactly half their number. But, instead of killing those nearest the opening, it began with the iirst and killed every alternate one ; the even numbers escaping with nothing worse than a fright. % Still more extraordinary was the trick played by a flash of lightning which ran along the roof of a hayloft without doing any damage, and travelled to Ihe sheep-fold, where it killed all the black-sheep a nd left all the white uninjured. After the electric fluid displaying such a preference for black, timid people might well be excused for preferring to wear clothes of a lighter hue when the thunder rolls. How often do we see great tree trunks decayed and desolate, standing sadly, like decapitated bodies ? In the majority of cases this is the result of lightning. Some years ago two sturdy oaks at Brampton were struck ; both were split asunder, and every particle of bark was shaved off and hung in long strips from the summit. Another common performance of lightning is the fusion of metals. A century ago a windmill in JLancashire was struck during a heavy storm, when a thick iron chain used for hoisting up the sacks of corn must have been, if not actually melted, at any rate softened. Indeed, the links were dragged downwards by the weight of the lower part, and, meeting, became soldered, as it were, in such a manner that the chain was a veritable bar of iron. Through the agency of this mysterious fluid the atmosphere is transformed into a forge. Thick leaden pipes melt like sugar in water, while nails, bolts,, and tools are welded together in a most unaccountable manner. There are even cases on record w r here money has been melted and the purse uninjured ; a swordblade liquefied, virile the scabbard remained intact ; a hat-wire melted into nothing, though the paper in which it was wrapped was not even burnt. As for the gilding on frames and cornices, it has frequently been removed by liehtning, and applied to objects that were never intended to be so ornamented. Many readers may be sceptical when asked to believe that the facsimile of a landscape could be photographed on the inside of the skin of a sheep which had been struck by lightning. This sounds impossible, but it is well authenticated. In another case, which occurred four years ago, a young man was walking in the outskirts of Berlin when lie was struck by lightning and remained unconscious for many hours. Me was taken to the house of the nearest doctor, who examined him, and discovered on the left side of his chest the portrait of a young lady of considerable attractions. At first sight there was every appearance of a miracle having been wrought, for uo female, old or young, had ncen near him at the time of the accident. The explanation of the miracle, however, proved to be prosaic, for in an inside coat pocket, exactly over the lightning portrait was a photograph of the identical young lady whose features had been thus mysteriously transferred.—' 'Scraps."