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KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

THE FEARFUL POWER OF THE ELECTRIC FLUID. Mr. G. F. RouMiktr held an inquosb at Hulford House, Shamley Green, near Guildford, on the body of Thomas Cglthurst Jameson, a retired major in the. Scottish Rifles, who was killed by lightning. The only evidence taken was that of the deceased man's father, a retired colonel of the East India Company's Sorvice, and Policeconstable Atfielil. It appeared that about five o'clock Major Jameson, aocompanied by his father and mother, went into a meadow new 1 the hoiiso to pick mushrooms. Major Jameson was some distance in front, anil there was n single clap of thunder and flash of lightning which frightened Mrs. Jameson, and she and her husband went into a wood and returned to the house, expecting that Major Jameson would follow. About, half an hour later Major Jameson was found by'n gamekeeper in the employ of Mr. H. Cubitt, M.P., lying on his face in tho field quito dead. Around hirj in a radius of several yards, were his clothes and boots, which had been torn and scattered about in an extraordinary manner. The lightning appeared to have struck Major Jameson on the right side of the head, tearing the cap he was wearing to pieeos, and burning his hair off. It then passed inside his collar, down the front of his body and both legs into his boots, which were torn to atoms, and then passed into the ground, tearing a hole About 18 inches in circumforence and three Inches deep. The deceased man's collar was torn Into a hundred pieces, none larger than asixpenco, ,the front of his shirt was rent into ribbons, the jacket and under vost literally torn to shreds, and the knickerbockers he was Wearing were stripped off and scattered on the ground around. Major Jameson's stockings and gaiters were similarly torn in pieces, and on the boots the lightning had had a remarkable effect. They were burst open, some of the brass eyelet holes torn out, nails were forced out, the soles torn off, and through the heel of each boot was a hole almost large enough to pass a lead pencil. The deceased man was wearing bis sister's gold watch at the time, and this had stopped at ten minutes past five. The glass had been reduced to powder, the works wero blackened, and the Binall screws twisted out. The body was also muoh dis« figured. The Coroner said it was a remarkable case, because people generally thought there was less danger from lightning in the open than under trees. There appeared to be no doubt that at that moment the light* ning must have been going to earth on the exact spot where Major Jameson was standing, Looking at the remains of the deceased man's clothes, he oould not realise or imagine what the force of the electric current was. It must have been fearfully : powerful, He knew something about electricity, but he could not gauge the force of such a current. The only thing the jury oould do was .to return a verdict that death was due to the deceased man being accidentally struok by lightning. This verdict was recorded.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18971016.2.62.20

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10575, 16 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

Word Count
532

KILLED BY LIGHTNING. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10575, 16 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

KILLED BY LIGHTNING. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10575, 16 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

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