This is quoted from Byron’s account of his wife Evelyn, and can be found in History of The Life and Acts of Byron Harvey Allred Jr. pp. 92-93.
“We had commenced digging a large cellar for potatoes and the storing of apples. We were now, or the boys were doing the main part of the work on it and the farm while I was working in the store, plowing and scraping the first part of the excavation in the side hill for this large cellar. They had just gone with their team to scrape the loose dirt out, a heavy electric storm came up and when they reached the cellar and were in the act of preparation to hook onto the scraper, a heavy bolt of lightning struck them. Lothair was standing at the horses hips with his hands resting on them. Elwood and Thatcher were a few feet farther back. The lightning struck all three of them and passing through Lothair’s body and hands went through his gloves into both horses, killing them both. Lothair was apparently dead. Elwood, too was knocked unconscious and to every appearance was dead. Thatcher was knocked down and for a moment turned to his brothers, with the thought that they were both dead. His legs and feet were badly burned and he could not walk. The shoes were blown off his feet. He began to crawl toward the house to give the alarm. Evelyn, while working in the kitchen had witnessed the heavy bolt of lightning and not seeing the boys in sight after it struck, feared they were injured and at once began running toward the cellar. She met Thatcher crawling toward the house. He told in a few words what happened. Then Evelyn ran on to the other boys. When she reached them they were to all appearances, dead. She laid her hands first on Elwood’s head and prayed with all her soul for his life. While her hands were on him he breathed and came slightly to himself so he could speak a little. She then turned to Lothair whom both she and Elwood thought was dead and taking him in her arms as earnestly prayed God to spare his life. He soon manifest signs of life. She ran for help and in great difficulty obtained assistance of Brother Miles and other kind neighbors and the boys were brought to the house. The two were more dead than alilve. Thatcher was now able to stand on his feet a little with help. Word was sent to me at the store. Brother Davis prepared a horse and carriage before he let me know of the accident, then called me. I went as fast as the horse could go, and found my two boys at death’s door. We worked and prayed over them with the assistance of kind friends and neighbors. While this very sore and trying scene was going on Orville, my brother, sat in one part of the room giving what help he could. He raised his eyes to one corner of the room in which we all were and there he saw dear wife, Lottie, as distinctly as he ever saw her while in life. She was watching earnestly over the work being carried on. He says she was plainly visible for some time. Time sufficient for him to think and realize that it was Lottie as easily recognized as ever in her life. Then she disappeared from his vision. He did not tell me of this for some time. He was so overcome and felt very strange about it. But I know that he tells the truth. No man could tell that experience and feel it as he tells and fells [sic] it if it was a deception in some way practised on him, or was the imagination of an excited mind.
While Lothair was lying as dead, he thought his spirit left his body and he saw his Aunt Evelyn leaning and crying over him. He also thought there was present with him some attendant, which he felt was his dear mother. I will always believe that his spirit did leave his body but through the mercy of God he was spared to us and permitted to return to life for some unfinished work.
The lightning had struck Lothair in the back and chest and passed round his body and mainly out at his arms into the horses. I can but believe that if the horses had not been there to conduct it he would most certainly have been killed outright. The bolt struck Elwood in the center of the chest burning great patches of flesh and a streak down his legs and off at the bottom of his feet. His back too was badly burned. Thatcher was burned mostly from his hips down. The flesh on all of them was cooked at though over a fire of great heat.
They slowly recovered from the deadly effects and became conscious, but it was a long time before they were well and fully recovered. The smell of lightning in their clothes and hair was something shocking. This smell was perceptible to them for a long time after the accident. I will ever feel that God spared my boys to me. I think for a good service that they yet will do. I hope and pray it may be.”
Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pgs. 397-399
This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.
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