The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

VALVE USE APPLICATION

IN 1932 THERE WAS A TEERIBLE STORM IN POLAND. ABOUT
30 PEOPLE RAN IN A BARN TO TAKE COVER. AFTER A
COUPLE MINUTES, LIGHTENING STRUCK THE BARN AND TWO
PEOPLE WERE DEAD, AND THE REST WERE UNCONSCIOUS
EXCEPT FOR ONE MAN. THE ONE MAN PROCEEDED TO CARRY
THE PEOPLE OUT, ONE BY ONE, AND PLACE THEM IN A
NARROW DITCH AND COVERED THEM WITH A SHOVEL OF DIRT.
SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE PEOPLE WERE REVIVED.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT WITNESSED THIS ENTIRE PROCEDURE FROM A
DISTANCE, WHEN HE WAS A BOY (10 OR 12 YEARS OLD). HE WAS
TOO FAR AWAY TO BE OF HELP, ALSO. IT WAS TERRIBLY
MUDDY AND HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH THE
PEOPLE IN TIME. INFORMANT NOW THINKS THAT WHENEVER
YOU'RE IN A FIELD AND LIGHTENING STARTS THAT YOU
SHOULD COVER YOURSELF WITH DIRT AS A RESULT FROM
HIS EXPERIENCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; POLAND

Date learned: 11-22-1971 ; 00-00-1932