Liston, Bert

LISTON

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/25/2011 at 21:42:24

DEATH BY LIGHTNING
Bert Liston Instantly Killed Last Evening
His Neck is Unjointed by the Shock and Death Resulted

Bert Liston, the thirteen-year-old son of Wash Liston, residing on the old Otis place west of Chatsworth, was struck by lightning about half past six last evening and instantly killed. He and his older brother, John, were driving up the sheep during a heavy shower and lightning struck the wire fence some distance away. Although they were a rod away from the fence both boys were knocked down by the shock. John was able to get up again, but Bert was rendered unconscious and probably instantly killed. From the slight discoloration on the body the lightning evidently struck at the base of the brain and followed down the body to the hip. No other traces of it were noticeable except just below the knee. The boy's neck was unjointed by the shock. Medical aid was summonded from Chatsworth but the physicians announced upon arrival that nothing could be done as death must have been almost instantaneous.

Source: hawarden Independent, May 4, 1905.