Cudgegong Valley History Project

Struck by Lightning.

Shocking fatality. The Coronor's Inquest. An inquest was held on Monday last by Mr. O. A. Edwards, P.M., Coroner, at the residence of Mr H. E. Carlisle, Murragamba, near Ulan, on the bodies of Albert Ernest Archer and Robert Stewart Bailey, who had met their death by lightning stroke on the previous day. James Loughrey deposed: I am a grazier, and reside at Ulan. Yesterday afternoon, about half-past two, I was riding, and at the first gate of Mr. Carlisle's place I saw two horses lying dead. They were lying on their sides, with their backs to each other. I also saw the two deceased, Albert Ernest Archer and Robert Stewart Bailey, lying near the horses. I have known both of the deceased since they were school boys. Archer was lying on his back alongside of the horse. Bailey was lying between the two horses, with one foot in the stirrup. I saw Bailey's shirt and vest burning, and I put the fire out. It was just about starting into a flame when I got there. There was nothing that I could see burning about Archer. As far as I could see both bodies were dead, also the horses. There had been some very heavy lightning just before I saw the deceased. The lightning appeared very close. After putting out the fire on Bailey's clothes I came on to Mr. Carlisle's place. I saw Mr. Carlisle. He went away and got assistance, and three men and myself went up and carried the bodies down to Mr. Carlisle's place. The conclusion I came to was that the deceased and their horses had been struck by lightning and killed. Harold Edgar Carlisle deposed: I am a farmer, and reside at Murragamba, near Ulan. Yesterday I was at my place about 2.30 p.m., when there was a thunderstorm, the lightning being vivid and appeared to be very close. James Loughrey came to my place about 2.30 p.m. He said: " There are two horses, also two men, struck dead by lightning at your gate." I went away and got assistance to shift the bodies to my place. First I met Archer's father coming out of a shed of mine, where he had taken shelter from the storm, and I told him there were two men and two horses lying dead at my gate. We went up, and I saw the two deceased lying dead. We made very little examination. They were quite dead. The father of Archer went to his own place, and I went for more assistance to Mr. George Carr's, and got Henry Carr, William Carr, and James Loughrey. I assisted them to bring the bodies to my place. Archer was lying on his back with his head towards the horse's feet, one foot being on the horse's shoulder. Bailey was lying between the two horses, one foot being in the stirrup. Bailey was badly burnt on the shoulders and neck. I could see no marks on Archer except one on his forehead, which may have been caused by the mare drawing her hind leg up. It was just a skin mark. On Archer's horse I noticed a mark down the back as if the hair had been singed. Archer's saddle cloth had a hole burnt in it, apparently quite freshly done. I could not see any marks on Bailey's horse, but on the seat of Bailey's saddle I noticed two small holes freshly burned in. Close to where the bodies of deceased were I noticed a dry box tree, one that had been struck by lightning, about 50 or 60 yards off. Apparently they were just through the gate when they were struck by lightning. I saw them both alive about a quarter of an hour before. James Loughrey came out and told me they had been watering their cattle at my well. When I saw them they were apparently hale and hearty. In my opinion they were killed by the lightning. William Gulley Archer deposed: I am a laborer, and reside at Murragamba, near Ulan. I have seen the dead body of Albert Ernest Archer, and it is that of my son. I left him at home yesterday morning, about 8.30 a.m., in the best of health. A storm came on about 2.30 p.m., and I took shelter in a shed of Mr. Carlisle's, who told me two men had been struck by lightning, and when I went up I found one of the deceased to be my son. Both bodies were quite dead, and so were the horses. My son was born at Murragamba, and was 18 years of age on the 27th of last May. He is not possessed of any property. James Bailey deposed: I am a laborer, and reside at Murragamba, near Ulan. I have seen the dead bodies of deceased. One of them is my son, Robert Stewart Bailey. He was 20 years of age on 24th last October. He was born at Buckaroo, near Mudgee. I last saw him alive at 12 o'clock yesterday. He was then in perfect health. He has no property. The Coroner's finding was: "That Albert Ernest Archer and Robert Stewart Bailey were struck by lightning and killed at Murragamba, near Ulan, on Sunday, 26th January, 1908." Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 30 January 1908, p. 17. Albert Archer Lightning