DREADFUL THUNDERSTORM IN THE ISLAND OF COLL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 330, 21 August 1868, Page 2

DREADFUL THUNDERSTORM IN THE ISLAND OF COLL.

INJURY TO PERSONS AND LOSS OF PROPERTY A correspondent sends the following account of a fearful disaster in the Island of Coll:—" The island of Coll was visited about one o'clock a.m., on the 29 ult, by a storm of unusual asever ity, attended with much injury to person and property. The thunder was

•most terrific, and the lightning awfully brilliant. In the township of Cornaigurore there are five tenants of the name of M'Kinnon. The dwellings and outhouses belonging to three of them ate built in a line at the foot of a hill. This hill seems to have been struck by the lightning, for the ro.k is split, and the earth is trenched and riddled as by a volley from a battery. Some of the electric fluid, after spending its strength upon the rock beyond seems to have run down the brow of the hill, and made passes for itself through the walls of the houses, and several breaches are seen in the walls ) stones of a considerable size having been broken as by a blast, and planks shattered into a thousand splinters. One of the tenants, named Donald M' Kinnon, lost ten head of fine Highland cattle, valued at £IOO. Ail his milkchcows were killed but one, which probably escaped owing to the circumstance of its being in a standing posture at the time. The other animals appear to have been caught while asleep. With smaller cattle and poultry, the electric fluid dealt in the same way. The other two tenants had three milkch cows killed, These men were previously in straitened circumstances and in consequence of this grievous loss they are reduced almost to beggary. On the thirteen head of cattle struck dead there was not a mark to be seen, and when dragged out of the byers they presented a most distressing and painful sio-ht. But this is not all, nor perhaps the heaviest loss sustained. Donald M'Kinnon and his wife, their son and his wife, and one of the children have been injured by the lightning. The man and the child are now considered out of danger, but not so the woman. The elder one has remained ever since in a state of stupor. Her hair and night-cap were burned, her right ear almost roasted, and she received, besides, a dreadful wound on the crown of the head. She is in a critical state The young wife was asleep at the time of the accident, with her infant sleeping on her arm. The sleeve of her gown and the arm under the baby were burned, while the infant escaped. This poor woman's body has been fearfully burned, and she suffered much from internal injuries. Although able to get out of bed occasionally she is not yet considered out of danger. The two other families received no bodily hurt, but in consequence of the loss they have sustained they are brought to the verge of pauperism. Each family consists of nine persons, the eldest of the childred being about thirteen years. One of the wives is at present nursing twius. It is fondly hoped that benevolent and Christian persons who may chance to read this account (hurriedly written by one who knows the people and visited the scene of desolation,) may feel disposed to relieve them." Donations for the relief of the families will be received by the Eev. Alexander Eraser, Free Church Manse, Coll, by Tobermory; Mr. Duncan Grant, publisher, Edinburgh ; and Mr. John M'Cullum, Religious institution Booms, Glasgow.