POWERFUL LIGHTNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 10

POWERFUL LIGHTNING.

PLANTER'S NARROW ESCAPE. LARGE TREE UPROOTED. Mr. J. F. A'Costa should consider himself a lucky man to be alive to-day, says the Samoa Herald, for the story be relates tells of his being within 30ft. of a terrific lightning flash. This occurred at his plantation at Alamagoto on February 20, during the early part of the storm which spread over Apia and districts.

Mr. A'Costa states that the lightning struck a large bread-fruit tree, and travelling down the trunk, came to earth. The leaves on the tree were withered and tho fruit turned black. The roots of the tree were torn out of the ground. Later he discovered that three coconut trees had tops badly twisted, (he tops hanging down and in a scorched state. Near by were the bodies of three fowls in a blackened condition.

Having occasion to draw .water from a tank, Mr. A'Costa noticed on tho surface of tho water a reddish-coloured powder and in the bucket were a number of small red pebbles, these having been washed down from the roof of his residence. On the trunk of the breadfruit tree was noticed markings as of small shot, and on the roof of the building were found small red pebbles. Mr. A'Costa states that the lightning flash was most vivid, and that on its way to earth it zigzagged down the trunk and continued on for some distance along the ground. He considers he is very lucky to have escaped death.