His strong
boots were torn from his feet, and his watch had a hole burned
right through it, as if a soldering iron had been used. The
watch-chain was almost completely destroyed, only a few links
remaining. Together with some fused coins, these were found close
by, and are deposited in a closed box in the Museum. According to
Orman's account of the affair, he first felt a violent blow on
the chest and shoulders, and then he was involved in a blinding
light and hurled into the air. He said he never lost
consciousness; but when at the hospital he seemed very deaf and
stupid. He was discharged perfectly cured twenty weeks after the
occurrence. The scientific explanation of this amazing escape
from this most eccentric vagary of the electric fluid is
given,--the fact that the wet condition of the man's clothing
increased its power of conduction, and in this way saved his
life. It is said that the electric current passed down the side
of Orman's body, causing everywhere a sudden production of steam,
which by its expansion tore the clothing off and hurled it away.
It is a curious fact that where the flannel covered the man's
skin the burns were merely superficial, whereas in those parts
touched by the cotton trousers they were very much deeper.
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