Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

Death by Lightning.-A Labourer named John Neiler, of Brandywine Township, Chester Co. was killed by lightning a few days since. The deceased was trimming weeds along a fence, some distance from the house, when a cloud passed over, from which considerable thunder and lightning proceeded but produced but little rain. Some other labourers, apprehending that a shower was approaching, were on their way to the house, and happened to pass by where the deceased lay, a few minutes after the flash by which he was supposed to have been killed. Life had become entirely extinct The fence near the spot where he laid, bore marks of the effect of the lightning, and one side of his face and neck had the appearance of being scorched. The scythe pole, a part of which he continued to hold in his hand, was completely severed with the stroke, and the scythe was round a bunch of briars, as if in the act of making a movement with it the moment he received the flash.-Inquirer.