Death from Lightning at Picton.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 11, 19 January 1870, Page 2

Death from Lightning at Picton.

(From the Marlborough Press.) '' It is our painful duty to record a melancholy accident, of a very unusual nature in New Zealand, which occurred on the evening of Wednesday last at the residence of E. T. Conolly, Esq., of Picton, resulting in the death of Mr Conolly’s second son, Edward, aged 11 years, and causing considerable damage to the house. During the afternoon thunder was heard in the distance, and, from the threatening appearance of the weather to the northward, a storm was expected. At five o’clock it commenced to rain, increasing, with occasional peals of distant thunder, until about six o’clock, when the rain poured down in torrents. About this time a very vivid flash of lightning occurred, instantly followed by a terrific crash of thunder, such as we have never before experienced. Mr Conolly and most of the family were at this time outside the house on the verandah, when the roof of the house, at the gable-end overlooking the Waitohi stream, was struck by the lightning, which shattered the timber and shingles, spreading them in all directions, smashing the upper window, and splitting one of the verandah posts in pieces. At this moment Mr Conolly, and, as he supposed, the whole of the family, retreated inside the house j but, on turning to close the door, he saw his son Edward lying on his back. He immediately returned, took him up, and carried him inside, when it was found he was struck by lightning on the head and chest, the hair of the head being singed. Dr Tripe was at once sent for, but he was away from home at the time. Every means at hand were used to restore animation, but without avail, and Dr Muller, who arrived shortly after, pronounced life quite extinct. After striking the house, tho electric fluid appears to have gone right through the building under the roof to the lean-to at the back of the house, which is covered with iron roofiing. Here it made a breach, tearing the' nails from the roof, then proceeded through the pantry window, smashing the whole of the glass in that part of the house, and thence on to the zinc spouting, which it followed round on either side, catting off the pipes overhanging the water tanks. A person who saw the house when it was struck says that for a few moments the roof appeared to be in a blaze of fire, and immediately afterwards it was seen to be smoking ; but we suppose the heavy rain that was falling at the time prevented the building taking fire. Several persons have expressed themselves as having seen a ball of fire at the time, and two little girls, after seeing it, told their mother that they had seen a “ big moon” go by. The unfortunate lad was a favourite with all who knew him, from his pleasing and amiable disposition, and his sudden death will no doubt be keenly felt by the family.