Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

I suppose all I can say is, some mighty weird things happen at funerals.  The “Democrat and Chronicle,” August 15, 1901:

Larned, Kan., Aug. 14.--A bolt of lightning saved a child from premature burial at Hanston, twenty miles from this city. The 5-year-old daughter of Samuel McPreaz, a rancher, apparently died on Saturday morning. Funeral services were arranged, the body prepared for burial, and no one noticed a sign of life remaining in the little body. Yesterday the funeral services were held and the procession started to the cemetery.

A storm was gathering at the time. On the way to the cemetery a bolt of lightning struck the hearse, burst open the metallic coffin in which the body was incased, knocked down both horses and stunned the driver. When the frightened mourners reached the hearse the little girl was sitting up crying for her mother. 

For a few moments the persons who witnessed the occurrence were too frightened to move, but finally the little girl was taken up and driven back to the house as fast as possible. Her parents believe the bolt was sent as a miracle and the people of the vicinity speak in whispers of it.

Physicians declare the little girl was in a cataleptic condition and the shock revived her, but many residents believe she was dead and came back to life. Telegrams from Hanston say she is recovered and feels no ill effects from being incased in the coffin for twenty-four hours. The lightning destroyed one side of the hearse and melted a portion of the coffin. Persons living in the vicinity of Hanston, who were in the funeral procession, tell many strange stories in connection with the occurrence. Some of them say that just the flash of lightning a peculiarly soft, mellow light appeared in the sky, which was so pronounced in its difference from sunlight as to attract attention and occasion comment, and that while the atmospheric conditions were being discussed the clap of thunder and the flash of lightning riveted their attention upon the strange scene which followed.

It is also said that the lightning, after passing through the metallic coffin, passed along the running of the hearse and burned the ends off the leather traces so that when the horses struggled to their feet they were unhitched from the vehicle that contained the broken coffin and the resuscitated child. What is thought to be one of the strangest features of the occurrence and which strengthens the belief of those who contend that it was a manifestation of the divine power, is that nobody was killed or even seriously hurt by the lightning. 

Mr. and Mrs. McPreaz are well-to-do ranch people, who live in the vicinity of Hanston. They have three other children, two girls, and a boy. They were raised in the Catholic faith, but have not been attendants at church for several years, as there is no Catholic congregation in that neighborhood. Mrs. McPreaz has been prostrated since the return from the cemetery, almost hysterical at times, and it is feared her mind is affected.