The union Democrat., 1870-09-17
A Thousand Persons Paraly xcd by Single
Stroke OF g.ixhtuing.
Flee Mstdatly Kaled-4 Ghastly Speetael,
IN a Circus Tent.

Flee hstdatly Killed. Ghastly Spectacle
In Circus Tent.
The vicinity of Kingston, on the Hudson
river, was visited on Thursday evening by
one of the most terrific thunder-storms on re-
cord. A circus tent, in which were about
| l.5o0 persons. was struck nv lightping, AID
| Eve were killed. Reports of fires caused by
the lightning we're received from many
points. The play of the lightning ard the
roaring Of the thunder are described as 6az-
ziing and 6eafening beyond all past exper-
fences. The atmosphere during the day was
oppressivelv sultry, the mercury indicating
% degrees in the shade. The earth was dry
and parched, and the air was filled with
smoke, which settled in the river so as to
hide the eastern bank from view. Thesmoxe
was from the burning woods npon the noun
tains in s5e neighborhood, and had thus OBJ
scured the opposite shore for several days.
The conditions were, altogether, such that
the atmosphere was marked to be beco,aing
unusually heavily charged with electricity.
At noon on Thursday, the smoke, for the first
time in week, began to lift, and later in
i'm the day there were observed, gathering in
the horizon at all points. dark, murky clouds,
huge cumuli, rolling together and seemingly
concentrating their length for one grand dis
play Of power. AS night approached, ftful
flashes Of lightning shot across the sky, and
deep mutterings of thunder could be heard in
the distance. At dark the electric display
became grand beyond description.
For miles the storm clouds hung over the
river. and the lightning flashed incessantly.
Despite the warnings of the approaching
storm, hundreds of men, women and children
thronged Union avenue en- route to George
F. Bailey and Co. q circus tent. which had been
pitched in desirable spot on that avenue so that
by the tine the performance commenced there
conld not have been less than 500 persons
within the tent. This was just before s P.
NJ, and large drops Of rain had already COM
menced to patter upon the canvas. while the
roaring thunder without, almost drowned the
voice of the ringmaster within. A short dis
tauce from the main tent was smaller tent
used ns fruit stand. aud few feet from
this stand stood willow tree in the corner of
the yard Of on adjoining dwelling. On the
corner of the circus ground. under and near
the tree, were grouped a large number of
persons who had taken shelter there from the
storm. Under the fruit tent were also con-
gregated about twenty-five persons, while
hitched to the tree spoken of was horse at
tached to a wagon, a colored man being seat
ed iu the wagon.
Mrth and jollity prevailed about this
grorp, one colored man yelling at times to
passers-by "Save yer money; I'll glib yer
a show before morning" and then all would
laugh. Faster fell the big drops of rain, and
more brilliant and mere rapid became the
flashes of lightning. till suddenly one blind
ing sheet Of flame lit up the entire scene, and
peal of thunder followed instantancously.
which shook the earth, while the air seemed
impregnated with sulrhLric smell. The
scene which then occurred inside the circus
tent battles description. Pallied faces were
everywhere, and fearful panic was imni-
nent, but the presence of mind of Mr.. Bailey,
the proprietor of the circus. saved hundreds
OF lives. lie shouted with ali his might and
main to the audience, keep your seats ~
and called loudly to 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 attract the attention
of the audience so as to save a rush and a
consequent trampling to death. and well he
succeeded. The clown cracked his jokes and
laughed as loud as ever but it could easily
he seen that it was not natural laugh and
that he, TOO. was thoroughly alarmed.
While all this was going on inside, the
fatal shaft Of lightning had done its work
outside. The bols appeared to core from the
west or southwest. cutting n hole about
twelve feet through the top of the main can.
} vas. thence across an open space to the will
low tree spoken of above. forty yards distant,
shattering that tree, killing the horse which
was tied to it. end knocking senseless the
driver, tearing the soles from his boots. and
sipgeing bis clothing. Passing from thence
it descended to the group Of colored persons
near that tree. Five were instantly killed
struck down with smiles and jokes upon Their
lirs. The following is q list of them-al'
colored people:
, Elizabeth Newkirk. of Hurley, aged l6
Jane Montayne. of Marbletown, aged so
Arthur Scott. of Kingston. aged 30: Jane:
Bush of Marhetown, aged %; W. S. Ever
son fsuprosed to be).
All were talking together. Jane Montayne
was leaning against the tree, with her arms
folded. listening to the others. She fell with
, her arms folded. and they could hardly he
prieG apart Elizabeth Newkirk was laugh
ing. and there MAS smile upon her lips
) when she was picked up. Arthur Scott had
/ an arm partially raised. and after death il
was hard work to straighten it. For full five
minutes after the awful visitation no one
: could stir in the vicinity-all were struck
dumb and unconscious. and were 2aralyzed
; TWENTY-FIVE persons under the first tent were
Knocked down and severely injured. Ac-
E cording to the statement of hystanders. twas
indeed fearful sight. Hundreds under the
main tent were paralyzed, and incidents OF
an extraordinary nature were visible every
where.
{ When the true state of affairs outside be
e came known under the main canvas, there
5 was no holding the audience, and then the
: entertainment for the evening ended at once
e As rush was made for the open air, it wa,
ascertained that scores of persons could no
' leave :heir seats. All of them were more OF
: less injured. One man had part Of his Goa
, torn away. another had lost the rim of hi
? hat, and dozens were almost unconscious
: They sat like statues. and there was a gaz
: of vacancy in their eyes that was frightful I,
r loo,; upon. Friends shook them and urget
them to 60. but they moved not-apparenil,
{ dumb. Every one of the compositors of tn,
Ulster Gazette was present. and every on
D was so seriously affected that the conductor
/: of that paper had to borrow help from othe
Offices. One of the employees sustained
very severe shock.