Sheline Experience With Lightning

SHELINE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 5/29/2019 at 11:12:54

The New Era
Humeston, Iowa
13 May 1886

Mr. Samuel Sheline and family had an experience with lightning last Monday afternoon, which, fortunately, resulted only in the death of a team of horses. He and son, Ulysses, had been out working on corn ground and were driven to the house by a heavy shower of rain. They drove the two teams and wagons up to the house, and Ulysses was in the act of unhitching his team when the lightning struck both horses in the head, killing them instantly, and also knocked the boy down in time for one of the horses to fall on him. At this instant Mr. Sheline was in the act of lowering an empty barrel from his wagon to the ground when he and the barrel both fell to the ground, and his team started to run away. The elder boy, Ben, who was near by discovered that his brother had fallen under the dead horses when he let the team go and pulled his brother out from under the horse that was lying on him. When the lightning struck Mrs. Sheline, who was standing in the doorway of the house smoking a pipe, was thrown several feet away into the yard. Mr. Sheline and Ulysses were some hurt and a messenger was sent for Dr. Chester. Mr. Sheline's injury was from his falling out of the wagon and in attempting to get up he staggered about on his feet and fell another time or two bruising him some, but not seriously. An examination proved that Ulysses had actually been struck by the electric fluid which had burnt him slightly on his right side, in spots, from the shoulder to the foot. The doctor says the family are "good grit" and seem to be greatly pleased to think that they escaped so fortunately.--Garden Grove Express.