Thunder and Lightning — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Thunder and Lightning
John Stuart Mill · en
All animals seem to be greatly exposed to the wrath of Jupiter;
nevertheless, some species appear to be peculiarly sensitive to
lightning--the gentle sheep, for example, which huddle together
fraternally during a storm, and fall in a mass, struck by the fire of
heaven.
I have before me a list of animals which have been struck. There are
some of every kind. We might divide them thus--
Several hundred rams, sheep, and ewes.
73 horses, mares, and colts.
71 oxen, cows, or bulls.
9 dogs.
4 asses.
3 goats.
3 cats.
3 mules.
2 pigs.
1 hare.
1 squirrel.
A prodigious quantity of geese, chickens, pigeons, and small birds.
Fish also contribute a respectable contingent to lightning.
As a rule, large groups of animals are dangerous when there is
thunder, as they seem to exercise a strong attractive influence to the
electric fluid.
Often entire herds are destroyed by lightning. Dr. Boudin gives the
following example:--
On May 11, 1865, at about 6.30 p.m., Hubert Wera, a shepherd who was
surprised in the fields when a storm overtook him, was hurrying home
with his flock. On coming to a narrow and difficult road, the sheep
formed themselves into two groups. The shepherd took shelter behind a
bush, when a terrible clap of thunder was heard. Lightning struck him
and his flock. The unfortunate man was struck on the top of his head.
All his hair had been taken from the nape of his neck, and the
electric fluid had traced a ridge on his forehead, his face, and
breast. His body was quite naked; all his clothes were reduced to
rags. Moreover, there was no trace of blood. The iron of his crook had
been detached from the handle and thrown several yards away, and the
handle itself was broken to pieces. A small metal crucifix and a
scapular belonging to the unfortunate shepherd were found fifteen
yards away.
Of the flock of 152 sheep, 126 were killed. They were covered with
blood, and their wounds were as varied as they were peculiar. Some had
their heads chopped, others had them pierced from side to side, others
had their legs fractured. As to the dog, he was not to be found.
On May 13, 1803, near Fehrbellin (Prussian States), one clap of
thunder killed a shepherd and 40 sheep.
On June 1, 1826, thunder killed 64 hairy beasts in a field at Gulpin
(Limbourg).
At Prades, on July 28, 1890, 340 sheep were struck at one blow.
During a violent storm which burst over Montmaur in the Isère,
lightning struck a flock of 90 sheep, and killed 53.
In the month of April, 1869, thunder burst over a sheepfold in which
there were 80 sheep.
Fifty of these were found entirely carbonized, the thirty others were
covered with sores, on the head, in the eyes, and on the back, and
half asphyxiated by the fulminant fluid. The poor sheep were all
cowering together.
On August 11, 1905, a flock of sheep were carbonized, and cattle of
every kind were struck.