LIGHTNING'S TERROR

SAMUEL THROCKMORTON INSTANTLY KILLED
IN THE OPEN FIELD

On Thursday last just as the bell rang for dinner Mr. Samuel Throckmorton, of Center township, was struck with lightning and instantly killed while engaged in cocking hay in the meadow.

Mr. Throckmorton, who is about 63 years old, had not been feeling well during the morning, and did not go to the field until a few minutes before the fatal accident befell him. Seeing a shower brewing, and knowing that the boys, John and Charley, needed help in getting a batch of well cured hay in cock, he proceeded to the meadow, and against the earnest protest of his sons, who besought him to return to the house and not risk getting wet, he went to work vigorously building a cock of hay as it always had been his custom on such occasions to continue his work until the rain compelled him to cease.

He had been at work but a very brief time when, whilst having a fork-full of hay on his shoulder the fork received a charge of lightning which passed down the handle, striking him on the left side of the head above the temple and completely enveloping him in its currents, as it encircled his body and ran down both legs into the ground. It tore a hole in his hat as large as the hand, ripped his clothes pretty much all off and bursted both shoes, loosening up the ground very considerably where it passed into the earth.

Mr. Throckmorton was one of the leading citizens of Center township, and was an industrious, peaceful, intelligent and highly useful man, strictly upright in all his dealings, and the owner of much valuable real estate. He was also a warm hearted, earnest Christian, having for many years honored his profession as a consistent member of the M. E. church.

He leaves a wife, daughters, Mrs. Margaret (Morgan) Ross and Elizabeth (James A.) Smith, of our town, are his loving daughters, to whom the breaking of the sad news was a heart-rending scene; and six sons, William S., John R., Samuel, Thomas M., Albert and Charley Throckmorton.