STRUCK DEAD.

Kumara Times, Issue 1715, 29 March 1882, Page 2

STRUCK DEAD.

Three young men in Union county, Arkansas, were discussing the probabilities of rain from a cloud which was just then rising in the west, a few days ago. The youngest of the group, John Freeman, referred to the drouth, and remarked that a God who would allow his people to suffer thus could not amount to much. Instantly a bolt of lightning flashed from a cloud overhead, and the young man fell dead. Nearly every bone in his body was smashed into jelly, while his boots were torn from his feet and the clothing from his lower extremities. The body presented a horrible appearance, being a black and mangled mass of humanity. His companions were stunned and thrown on the ground, but not seriously injured. The funeral of the unfortunate young man occurred next day, and attracted a large crowd, the larger portion of whom were drawn thither by the rumor of the strange event preceding the death of the deceased. When the body was deposited in the grave and the loose earth had been thrown in until the aperture was filled, and while the friends of the dead man yet lingered in the cemetery, a bolt of lightning descended from a cloud directly over the burial place and struck the grave, throwing the dirt as if a plough had passed lengthwise through it. No one was injured, but those present scattered almost paralyzed with terror.