This barn belonging to John Eade, Elnora, Indiana, and occupied by
I. L. Fielden, Elnora, R. F. D. No. 3, was struck by lightning July 9, 1913.
One man, six head of horses and one mule were killed. The name of the
man who was killed was Earl Thias and he had taken refuge in the shed
and was sitting in the wagon seat when the lightning struck. There were
eight or nine other men in the building, being members of a threshing crew.
When the lightning struck the barn it followed the path of least re-
sistance down the roof, tearing the shingles until it reached a bailing wire
which was attached to the rafter and which hung downward to within about
three inches of the loft floor and almost directly over the place where the man
is seen sitting in the wagon seat. The lightning followed this wire to the
end and where it left the wire, broke through the floor, making a hole like
that made by a bullet and entered Mr. Thias's body, killing him instantly.
It also burned a streak down one man's right side, grounding through the
platform of a binder against which he was leaning.
The horses and mule which were killed were in the other side of the
barn and were dragged out of the barn at the time the photograph
was taken.
For protection from damage by lightning address
DODD & STRUTHERS, Des Moines, Iowa
