Sowers - Thomas
Source: Unknown
Thomas Sowers, 18-years old and well known about Hillsboro, a
son of George Sowers, who lived for several years south of
Wallace, was instantly killed Tuesday shortly before noon in a
most unusual manner by a bolt of lightning from a cloudless sky.
The natural phenomenon is regarded as a freak by those who heard
the deafening crash and saw the victim struck dead in his tracks.
There was no cloud in sight, nor was there a storm approaching.
There was not an indication of a storm at that time or at any
other in the day. The fatality is considered the most unusual
which ever took place in that section and is so strange that the
people speak of it with bated breath so dazed are they over the
casualty. What is still more perplexing is the fact that the
deadly bolt and reverberating peal of thunder were the only ones
which occurred during the day. There was absolutely no indication
of a rain or electrical storm during the remainder of the
day.
The incident is causing almost as much talk as the tragedy
wherein Clara Shanks lost her life in the famous Wolf creek pool.
Sowers and Thomas Cyte, a neighbor were hauling wheat to a
threshing machine on the farm of Squire Cates, 3 miles north of
Coal Creek when Sowers was killed. Cyte was pitching the sheaves
of wheat up on the load while Sowers placed them in position. A
number of other persons were at work in the field. There was a
blinding flash and in the next instant an almost deafening peal
of thunder. Cyte was knocked down and a few minutes later when he
regained consciousness he found one of the horses lying dead.
Sowers was nowhere to be seen and getting no response when he
called his name, Cyte climbed upon the load of what and there,
lying on the sheaves of wheat, he discovered the lifeless body of
his neighbor and fellow workman. Sowers' body was removed to the
Cates home after which Coroner Parnham was notified. The inquest
was arranged for that evening.