The White Pine News

Struck by Lightning.
[Elko Free Press, May 30th.]

From E. Penrod, who arrived from Island Mountain Wednesday, we gather the following particulars of the killing by lightning of Andrew Johnson, the eleven-year old step-son of L. West, whose ranch is on the north fork of the Humboldt, about 56 miles from Elko. It seems that on Saturday last the little fellow started on a mare, with a young colt, and his dog following him, to hunt up and drive in a small band of horses supposed to be two or three miles up the stream, and he did not expect to be gone more than two hours. Shortly after the boy left the ranch a heavy thunder shower set in accompanied by vivid and frequent flashes of lightning. Waiting a reasonable time and the boy not returning, Mr. West started in search of him, but the rain had obliterated the mare's tracks and they could not be followed. Becoming now thoroughly alarmed as to the little fellow's safety, Mr. West immediately engaged about twenty Indians to help in the search, but no trace of him could be found that day or the following. The search was continued day and night, and on Monday afternoon was rewarded by the discovery of the dead bodies of the boy, the mare he was riding and the colt, all lying together about two miles from the ranch. They had been killed by a stroke of lightning. A clean-shaven space on the right side of the boy's head showed where the bolt had struck. The hair was burned and crisp around the spot. The mare and colt were killed by the same flash, but the dog escaped with the loss of one eye, evidently being hit by the spent force of the bolt. He was found beside the dead bodies, where he had remained for three days, and did not want anyone to go near them. The remains of the boy were carried to the house, from which place they were buried Tuesday. Andrew was in Elko with his father week before last, and seemed to be a very bright little fellow. His sudden taking off is a sad blow to his parents, who have the sympathy of the entire community.