Killed by Lightning.

Southland Times, Issue 4792, 15 November 1883, Page 2

Killed by Lightning.

During the thunderstorm that passed over the town yesterday afternoon, a fatal accident occurred which deprives a family of its head, and society of a most useful and esteemed member. Mr Arthur Crisp, in company with some friends, was at the Eiles Road station, waiting for the aftarnoon train to come up, to go to Mataura on business connected with the opening of an Oddfellows' Lodge there. Just a few minutes before' the train was dve — about 20 minutes past four — he was standing beside Mr F. G. Stone, somewhere about the front of the waiting-shed, when the flash preceding one of the severest peals of thunder, struck the shed, and Mr Crisp and Mr Stone. The latter was not seriously injured apparently, although stunned, bruised, and scorched, but his companion, poor fellow, was practically killed on the spot. There were a considerable number of people about, and as soon as alarm would allow them to act, attention was turned to the unfortunate man. It was found that he was alive, indeed he spoke after being struck, but only to utter dome words which apparently it had been in his mind to say before the blow. A cab was procured with all haste and he was driven to the hospital, but life was extinct before their destination was reached. Although occupying but a humble position in life! deceased was a man very widely respected"! Physically, he was a fine specimen of the race, and his intellectual and moral qualities were worthy of his manly appearance For years his name has been familar as a leader and most zealous worker in connection with Oddfellowship and Temperance. Indeed, from all we know, or have heard of him, he was in every respect a most worthy citizen, and an admirable representative of " the working man." He has been thus suddenly cut off at the early age of 34, leaving a wife and five children to mourn his loss ; but they may rest assured of the sympathy of many friends. The deceased bore scarcely any marks of injury on the side that sustained the shock, but on the opposite side, on the inside of the leg, a portion of a tree was depictured like a photograph. By the same fl ash, and at the same spot, a boy named Sheehan was also struck, but very slightly. He felt stunned a little andl pained as by a blow, in one eye. He also went to the Hospital, but on being assured by Dr. Ward ale that he had received no injury that would trouble him, beyond an unpleasant sensation for some time, he went home. We have also heard that another man who was sitting on the form in the shed at the time was thrown forward on his knees, and that a baby was jerked out oE the arms of its mother ; but these are only rumors that we have not b^en able to verify. If they did occur, it was probably from the shock given to the building, which is considerably shattered at one corner. One of the piles supporting the platform was also split by the fluid, -which, as usual. appears to have followed a most erratic course. Our latest information regarding Mr Stone was that he was recovering from the effects of the severe shock to hia system, sustained not only from the electric stroke itself, but from the appalling death of his comrade. Rumor of another fatal result of the storm also reached our office at a late hour. This was to the effect that two children named Fraser had been struck and killed up the Winton line in the vicinity of Wilson's Crossing or Gap Road, and that their parents had been prostrated, but whether by the terrible calamity that had befallen them or by lightning we have been unable to ascertain. We hear also that two children at Waikiwi were injured by the lightning.