The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-30
Appalling CaHamity-Five Persons
Struck Dead by Lightnin2-More
than Twenty Badly Injured
Correspondence Of the New York Time


KINGSTON. n. Y, August %, 1870.
This vicinity Is wild with excitement
over one of the most awful occurrences
that was ever chronicled.
Just before 8 P. NJ. large drops OF rain
had already commenced to patter upon the
canvas, while the roaring thunder without
almost drowned the voice of the ring-mas-
ter within. A short distance from the main
tent was q smaller tent, used as O fruit
stand, and few feet from this stood q willow
tree, located in the corner Of the yard OF an
adjoining dwelling. On the corner Of the
circus ground, under and near the tree,
were grouped large number Of persons
who had taken shelter there from the storm.
Under the fr1lit-tent were also congregated
about twenty-five persons, while hitched to
the tree spoken Of was horse attached to o
wagon, q colored woman being seated in
the latter. Mirth and jolity prevailed.
THE FATAL FLASH.
Faster and more violent fell the big drops
of rain, and more brilliant and more rapid
became the flashes of lightning, till sudden
ly one binding sheet of flame lit up the en-
tire scene, and peal of thunder followed
instantly, which shook the earth to its foun-
dation, while the air seemed impregnated
with sulphurous odor. The scene which
then occurred inside the circus tent battles
description. Rows of pallid faces were
everywhere, and fearful panic was immi-
nent, but the great presence Of mind OF Mr..
Bailey, the proprietor Of the circus, saved
hundreds of lives. He shouted with all his
might and main to the audience "Keep
your seatsW and called loudly on the band
to play, while at the same time he urged the
performing horses about the ring through
little lakes of water, hoping thereby to at
tract the attention of the audience so as to
prevent rush and a consequent trampling
to death, and we'll he succeeded. The
clown cracked his jokes and laughed as loud
as ever, but it could easily be seen that it
was not a natural laugh, and that he too
was thoroughly alarmed,
THE WORK OF DEATH.
While all this was gong on inside, the ia
tai shaft Of lightning had done its work out
side. The bolt appeared to come from the
west or southwest, cutting hole about
twelve feet square through the top Of the
main canvas, thence across an open space
to the willow tree spoken of above, about
forty yards distant, shattering that tree,
killing the horse which was tied to it, and
knocking senseless the driver, tearing the
soles from his boots and singing his cloth
ing. Passing thence it descended to the
group of colored persons near the tree, and
then came death. Five were Instantly
down Instantly with smiles
and Jokes upon their lips. All colored
people.
All were talking together. Jane Mon
tanye was leaning against the tree, with
her arms folded, listening to the others
she fell with her arms folded, and they
could hardly be pried apart Elizabeth
Newkirk was laughing, and there was a
smile upon her lips when she was picked
up; Arthur Scott had one arm partially
raised, and after death 1t was hal d work to
straighten it, and thus they died.
THE SCENE THAT FOLLOWED.
For few moments after the awful yiSta-
ton no one could stir in the vicinity all
were struck dumb and unconscious, and
were paralyged, twenty-five persons I'M
der the fruit tent were knocked down and
severely injured. According to the state
ment of bystanders, it was indeed 4 fearful
sight. Hundreds under the main tent were
paralvZed. When the true state OF affairs
outside became known under the main can
vas there was no holding the audience, and
the entertainment for the evening ended at
once. AS 4 rush was made for the open
air, it was ascertaincd that scores Of persons
could not leave their seats. Dozens were
almost unconscious. They sat like statues,
and there was gaze of vacancy in their
ewes that was frightful to look upon.
Friends shook them and urged them to go,
but they moved not-apparently dumb.
From the detailed account Of the remark
able thunderstorm, with loss of life and
injury to large number Of persons, at
Kingston, on the Hudson river, on Thurs
day evening, it will be seen that fifteen hun
dred persons, Notwithstanding that the
storm was impending and the lightnlngs
in the sky, assembled IN a
larna number of bodies collected together