The New York herald., 1869-08-28
THE ELEMENTS.
Terrific Thunder Storms In
Central New York.
TWO MEN KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
Destructive Tornado In
Georgia.

From the Syracuse IN. " Journal August 2e.]
oh wednesday afternoon. between the hours OF
Sccompan,ed acc BY sharp lightning and heavy thunder
passed over this city ana vicinity. The fall OF rain
was unusually heavy, the clouds dense and low. and
DurCharged with electricity and the thunder IN tone
and the lightning III vivldness surpassed any that
have occurred before during the present season The
seyerest Of the showers passed over this CITY, cover
ing its whole territory and over the adjacent
giOns from the west to the east and extending
6ve or ak mies to the south. There were four
or five lightning flashes that were particularly
shagr, and 30 speedily followed by reports that
Il was the impression OF persons In all parts OF the
city that the bolts must have fallen In their imnedi.
ate vicinity. The lightning struck In at least two
places within the city bounds one bolt shiverng u
tree In the extreme northern part OF the city, and
another striking dwelling in the extreme south
western part the two localities being about two and
haf mics apart @ nan % was killed ut ap99t S ioas
east of the city, both cases the victims beng en-
gagged in driving teams along the highway. In one
or Two othSr instances individuals were shocked by
the electric fluid. We append details OF the fatal
suits to human life and other casualties by the light
Mug.
MAN KILLED NEAR oNoNDAGA VALLEY.
case OF instantaneous death by lightning
stroke occurred few minutes before three o'clock
about four and half miles south OF this city, the
rbad leading 10 the indian reservation and within
nile and q half OF Onondaga Valley. A young man
Colif Dee stone cutters, OF this city, mad been to
the reservation quares for load OF stone, In COM
fney were returning toward the city when the storm
came on. The two teams were moving along In line
near each other, and the teamsters were sitting on
ing. Immediately after binding Hash Of light.
ng oS9 lo&Sa dR aaa ~ saw TSga one Of Pgg
stretched ON his back across the load Of stone
his clothing smoking as II on fire. The horse which
was down spranR up, and both commenced rearing
ana plunglng. Curran stopped his team ran
towards Purce's and succeeded in quieting the
horses Going to Purcell. he found him dead De-
IN his hands. The. crown OF his hat was torn into
shreds, but the rim, untouched was about the head
m % on 5 ae e S sacx pe r
OF the hat into pieces passing between the rim and
head and beneath the clothing a. the open shirt
collar. On the lett shoulder there appears burned
spot Of several inches in diameter Skipping
portion Of the breast the fuld crossed the body in
right leg into the boot the foot Of which was torn
Ito pieces ana h lne leg leg part ripped open its whole
to The ground The track OF the iluid is plainly vis
BILE on the body by strip OF burned nesh from two
to four inches In breadth. The horse which was
his mate either from the lightning his founder
ing, received cut on the nind leg. Otherwise both
the stone displaced. Curran obtained help, and the
body was taken lnto the barn OF Mr. Z. Birmingham,
near by. where 1t renamed until O corin could be
procured, when 1t was brought to Ryan's under
taking rooms III this city.
On the rear end OF Purcell's load was keg Of
"plugsn and "ieatners." iron wedges used at the
quarries, and sticking perpendlcuiarly through The
rack Of the wagon was steel crowbar, used in
loading and unloading stone. The bolt that Killed
no was driving 1t was perhaps, attracted by the
steel bar and Purcell being in the track Of the bolt,
received the electric fluid.
Purcell was o young man. aged twentv-three
years, and single. He has been in the employ OF
sustained good character HIS parents reside IN
Cornwall, Canada The particulars OF the death Of
their son were telegraphed to them last evening.
ANoTnER MAN KILLED IN THE TOWN OF DE WITT.
The same storm by which the fatal casualty above
related was caused passed onward to the east aud
clalmed another victim IN the adjoining town OF De
Witt, az poiut seven eight miles distant from the
locality where Purcell was killed. 1t Is remarkable
nelwas sitting on hfs wagon driving along the road
the Same as the other victim was, when he met his
in this case Harris Bostwick, living at "the Hud.
DIE In the southern part OF the town Of Dewitt was
driving team employed & IN drawing plaster TEL from from
ming and instantly killed. Deceased was IN the en-
poy OF Messrs. William and James Hurd, Of Fayette-
was also killed. Mr.. Bostwick was very worthy
young man, and his sad death is deeply deplored in
the community where he resided. lie was about
We earn-iurther, since the above was in type,
that deceased when killed was on the road midway
between jones' Landing on the canal feeder and his
home at 1.-THE Huddle." He had just delivered q
load Of plaster. The lightning struck his head
passed across his breast. leaving its black record
burned deep into the skin and down his legs tearing
the boots Off his feet. The course OF the uid and
Its effect upon the body Of Bostwick, were very
both very large and powerfully built men. Bost-
wick six feet three inches IN height, giant in
strength and activity, and very INDUSTRIOUS
worthy and universally liked man. He was son Of
Harry Bostwick well known resident of Dewitt
for life, IN the war. Deceased was under engage
ment to be married to worthy young woman, In q
DWELLING HOUSE, STRUCK.
About halrpast two O'Clock, while the storm was
scverest here, the dwelling house Of MIR. George W.
struck by lightning and slightly damaged. The
electric fluid struck the chimney, knocking some of
the bricks OH, and in it's downward course entered
the roof, tearing the shingles up for quite space
around the chimney, and then passed down the
renee srs Wood Was sitting in the house n in close
proximity to the chimney, and near by IN cradle
was her infant asleep. The shock Knocked Mrs.
Wood from the chair, stunning her for an instant
The infant was not disturbed III the least servant
girl was engaged at the time In sweeping the steps
She was Knocked over and considerably shocked
Neither were severely Injured, though both were
badly frightened.
A TREE sHArrERED-sEvERAL PERSONS STUNNED
A large tree at the corner OF Wolf and Carbon
streets, in the First ward, was struck and much
shattered. Several mcn sitting on a stoop across
the road from this tree were considerably shocked
but sustained no serious injury little girl named
Clifford, whose parents reside IN an adjacent house,
was stricken down and rendered insensble for
short time by the Shock, which was also seriously
felt by other members OF the family. No Cne OF
those thus experiencing the electrical influence was
OTHER INCIDENTS.
Whe the Storm was IN progress workman,
machine shop in East Water street, while standing
with his hand on galvanized exhaust pipe, received
severe shock IN the arm, which staggered him for
m instant.
[From the Utica Obsery er, August 2e.l
RAIN AND THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
Just after the observer went to press, yesterday
afternoon, with the remark, "Looks Ike ralnn
rain came indeed. The shower was q very heavy
one, and accompanied by loud, sharp thunder and
vivid lightning. Ono stroke was of unusual sharp
ness, the peal following tho light 30 quickly TO
indicate tnat the lightning was almost In our
presence Yet we do not hear OF any damage done
In the city or immediate neiRhDorhood. The storm
here lasted about an hour but continued longer
elsewhere.
EFFECTS OF THE LIGHTNING.
The storm OF yesterday afternoon was more &C.
In the southern part OF the county than here.
1t lasted about two hours. On Babc0cks Hill the
lightning struck barn belonging to Mr.. Lucius Ray
farmer. This barn was freshly and completely filled
with hay and grain. The lightning stroke killed q
horse and set lire TO the barn, and this and barn
adjoining together with the contents Of both, were
totally destroyed. The loss Is estimated at $4,000 or
$4,000.
The Oldest inhabitants OF the southern part OF
Oneda county, do not rememher such q storm. Al.