Trove Tuesday - Experience with Lightning!

The Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) , Thursday 2 March 1911, page 2, reports of the frightening experience three women from the Parnell family had with lightning while driving to Corowa, NSW, during a thunderstorm. 

EXPERIENCE WITH LIGHTNING.

Three Women Rendered Unconscious. 

Mrs Parnell and her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were driving to Corowa during a thunderstorm, and when within a mile of their destination the lastnamed got out of the buggy to get the whip which had fallen. As she was stooping a vivid flash of lightning passed near the party, striking a post, and for several minutes the three women were rendered unconscious. The younger girl and the horse were felled to the ground. When they came to they were covered with splinters of wood, evidently from the post struck by the flash. Beyond a slight scare none of the party was injured.   

My great grandmother's sister, Mary Ann EAST (1869-1944), married William PARNELL (1869-1947).  They resided in Corowa from at least 1896 until their deaths.  To my knowledge, Mary Ann and William had at least four children born in Corowa:

• Dulcie R PARNELL (1896)
• Vera G PARNELL (1901)
• Clive D V PARNELL (1903)
• Eric L L PARNELL (1899)

Due to the lack of christian names in this article, I am unsure whether this incident involved Mary Ann PARNELL, one of her daughters and her mother-in-law or not.  However, given that Corowa did not have a large population at the time, it is highly possible there is a family connection.

This post was created for a series of blogging prompts called Trove Tuesday, hosted by Amy at Branches, Leaves & Pollen.