"Lightning's Terrors

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 feeing well during the morning, and did not go to the field until a few minutes before the fatal accident befel [sic befell] him. Seeing a shower brewing, and knowing that the boys, John and Charley, needed help to get 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 had always 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 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.

Charley, who was operating the horse rake a short distance away, was knocked from his seat and somewhat dazed by the shock. John was but a few steps from his father at the time and went to him at once, but he was already quite dead, no signs of life being visible. But strange to say not a bone of his body was broken, nor was there any laceration of the flesh or skin, only the usual abrasion or seared welt marking the course of the current.

Mr. Throckmorton seemed to be a special object of the fury of this destroying element, as he had been knocked senseless on a former occasion, having been near a tree which was struck by a thunder bolt. On Thursday last there did not appear to be very much of a storm. He was struck at about the first noticeable flash there was, which was succeeded only be a few sharp thunder claps.

Mr. Throckmorton was one of the leading citizens of Centre 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, a number of children and a very large and respectable connection to mourn his untimely death. Mrs. Morgan Ross and Mrs. James A. Smith, of our town, are his loving daughters, to whom the breaking of the sad news was a heartrending scene.

He was buried in Green Mount Cemetery, this place, on Sunday afternoon in the presence of one of the largest funeral assemblages gathered in this burying ground. The procession of vehicles from the country was very long there being 55 carriages beside about 20 horsemen. The whole town was out to witness the solemn procession pass and a great many of our citizens repaired to the Cemetery to witness the interment."