The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-09-08
TIL E POST.
MIDDLEBuRo,...,,, ,...sEPTEMBERs is;,
Circus Stru~k by LSehtuiug.

this summer. In Kingston, Ulster Co
N. y, one of the most appalling DIS.
nstcrs ever recorded occurred, which
cast a deep oom over the community
and caused sorrow aud lameDta,iol
among many families.
A circus and mcnagerie was exhibit
ing in the village and it Is estima.e ed
that fully fifteen hundred people were
present IN the evening. This was Just
before SP. NJ, aud large drops Of rain
had JUS begun TO pat'er on the canvass
whilst the flashes OF lightning and the
crashing peals Of thunder were or-
palling. A short distance from the
main tent was q smaller tent, used ~
e n fruit stand, and few feet from this
stand stood a willow iice in the corner
OF the yard of 40 adjoining dwelling
DO the corner Of the circus GROUND.
under and near the tree, weie grouped
q large number OF persons who had
taken shelter from the storm. Under
the fruit tent were also conpreguicd
about twenty-five persons, while hitchcd
TO the tree was horse and wagon. A
colored man was seated in the wagon.
Mirth and jolliiy prevailed about this
group, one colorcd man yelling out at
times Save yer money; Ill glib yer
show before morning."
Suddenly one binding sbee, Of flamr
Iii up the entire scene, and peal OF
thunder followed which shook the e.r,h.
Rows OF pnllid faces were evcryw here,
and q fearful panic was imminent but
the presence Of mind of Mr.. Bailey.
the proprietor Of the circus, saved
hundreds Of lives. lie shouted TO the
audience, Keep your seats" and
called loudly on the band to play, while
at the same time he urged the per-
forming horses about the riog throusb b
little lakes Of water, hoping thereby to
attract the aitcotion OF the people and
save a rush and consequent tramplirg
to death
Meantime the lightning had done lis
work outside. The bolt seemed 10
come from the west or southwest, cut
ting hole about twelve feet sQua, G
through the top OF the main canvass.
thence across an open space to the will
low tree spoken Of above, SCATTERING it.
killing the horse which was tied TO il.
and knocking scnselcss The Griver,
tearing the solcs from lis boots and
singing his clothing. Thence it dc
scended 10 the group of colorod rersor s
near the tree, aud iSe were Instantly
killed. They were all talking together.
Jane Mon'ayne was leaning agars,
the tree with her a ms folded, and ihey
could hardly be pryei apart. Eliza.
beth NewkiIk was laue hing, and there
was 4 smile upon he, lips when she
was picked up. Ar,hu Scott had one
arm partly raised, andl of,er dea,h il
was hard work to s,rai ghteu it--nnd
thus they died.
Twenty-Five PERSONS updcr ihe fruit
tent were Knocked down and seve,e;v
injured. According to the story Of ,he
by-s'andels, it VAS indeed q fearful
spectacle.
Hundreds under the main tent wee
paralyzed. aud strange sight wee Wis,
iblc everywhere. When he uue state
Of affairs outside became known Ut der
the main canvass theie was no Lcldir.
the people, aud then the entertainment
for the 'vening ended.
Asa rush was made for The open air.
it was sscertancd that scores of pei.
sons could not leave their seats. All
we've more or less injured. Que man
had pant Of his coat torn away, apother
had lost the lin of his hat, ard dozeus
were almost unconscious. They Sat
like statutes, and there wos gaze .
vancancy in their eye, "s, W.. fri :
fol TO look upon. F,ienJs shock ZEN
aud urged them (, 90, brt hey moved
noi-ap, a,er,iy dumb Every one o.
tie comp s. ors IT the Ulster Gosele
were present. I'D every one was so
seriously ,f'ec'e' III. ,he conductors
Of that raper had 10 emp oy help to.
other Offices One man had his Loo,
torn completely cff. Ano her hrt AZ
umbrella in his ha"i. lie WIS krccksd
d0wh and 1. vas tom ~ l'cccs.
Arolhtr rerscD vas ,ingu a,ly a..
{ cted. lie was badly bul ned IN the
back ard cut was made in his cor.
exactly the shape Of star, aod h $
hat was torn 10 shreds from lis hesG
Andrew DeWis,,' ,'wtO was badly tur. =
cd IN tho left breast. lay stun, ei for
nearly two l.ours. Que cid colnred
woman who was stapuing outside ;ae
tent, was sue lba, she was attt ckeG by
q paralyric strole. She cou'd move
neither her arms cor feet for rearly al
quarter OF Az hour. waen she gradually
revicd, then hobb,ed off the q ounds
A little child, seven years Of ago, was
hurled to the ground from top seat
inside tie main canvass aud had hen
lett arm broker. IL is noteworthy
fact that The bodies Of The dead bore
no marks OF violence whatever not a
7 article Of eviden"e was Observable to
show that they had died other than q |
natural death. The acsb was nowhere
buried, nor was tho hcir scorcbed. -
The lightning 70. two hours was start
ling. Jagged streaks anu flashes OF
''forked end chain lightning" lesped
from cloud 20 cloud intessanily, down
The moupiain sides. ihroneh valleys,
and across the wa ers o; the Hudson.