The daily gazette., 1876-07-14
FIRST EDITION
A TERRIFIC STORM.
MAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING
SEVERAL PERSONS STUNNED.
TRIES AND BUILDINGS sTRUCK-A PER-
Feet FLOOD OF RAIN-THE HEAVIEST
TuuNnFR oT0RM NOR YEARg

THUNDER STORM FOR YEARS.
Yesterday afternoon this city and
vicinity was visited by the most severe
storm of rain, thunder and lighting
that has occurred here for years. The
storm gathered slowly and about three
o'clock burst suddenly upon us
in all its fury. The rain fell in torrents,
and the lightning and thunder were
incessant. In about half an hour there
was slight lull in the storm, but in
few minutes after the rain commenced
to fall again and continued to pour
continuously, until nearly five o'clock.
All the streets of the city were
flooded, and in the lower and eastern
part of the city many cellars were
flooded and culverts filled to over
flowing. The Monroe street culvcrt
was also converted into raging tor
rent, and a small boy who fell in on
Front street would have been drowned
had not a man passed along just in
time to pull him out.
TgE LIGHTNING,
which accompanied this storm. was
unusually severe, and terribly de.
structive, 1t shocked number of
persons, struck several buildings, and
in one case was attended with fatal
results.
The victim of this flash was George
Morris, carpenter, who lived at No.
1928 Chestnut street, Tenth Ward. In
company with VIM. Moore he had been
out after blaekberries, and they were
on their way home when the storm
came on. Instead of seeking shelter
they continued on their way home, but
quickened their pace to sharp run,
Morris being about fifteen yards in
advance. Just as they were passing
| the Tatum farm, on the Lancaster Pike,
about half mile from the city limits.
Morris was struck by bolt of lightn-
ing full upon the head, and instantly
fell to the ground. Moore says that the
bolt appeared to fall directly upon
Morris, and ,enveloped him in blue
blaze. He ran up quickly but found
that the unfortunate man was entirely
dead with his face and neck blaokened
and his hat torn to pieces from the
force of the shock.
Moore came Immediately in town
and notified the Coroner, who pros
enred a wagon and went after the
body, which he brought home. Beyond
slight blackness about the face Ihere
were no marks about the body, and it
is evident that The great shock instant
ly deprived the unfortunate man of
life and consciousness.
This morning the Coroner held an
inquest, and verdict in accordance
with the above facts was rendered.
Morris was abon. 80 years OF age, and
leaves family composed of his wife
and enether.
MARROW ESCAPE.
Mr.. j. Mcbride, of Heisler. Mcbride
g. Co., had n very narrow escape dur
ing the storm. Ee was standing close
beside large sheet of copper, in the
factory on Second street near French,
while Edward Bradley, an apprentice,
and John Moore and John Healey.
who has just stepped in, were stand
ing near the door The Lightning
struck the fag-pole on toy of the build
ing, passed down through the roof,
and through all open hatchway. when
it struck upon the sheet of copper on
the first floor. scattering the electric
fluid around. the making large in
dentation in the copper. Mr.. Mcs
Bride, though terribly frightened, did
not sustain any shock. but the others
VINO were standing further away from
the copper, were shocked with con-
siderable force. Mr.. Moore was blind
cd for an instant by the fash, and was
rendered neraly unconscious. tie is
still quite i'll frGm the effects of the
shock.
The flag pole was tipped with a
brass star, which probably attracted
the lightning. The star was bent, and
one point melted, while the pole was
split from top to bottom. But strange
to say, the roof was not torn ur, and
there is no apparent indication of the
passage of the lightning into the bull
ding below, except at the second floor
hatchway. which was much splinter
ed.
| ANOTHER NARROW ESCAPE.
Towards the close of the storm
Eam'l j. Day, Esq, while walking
along Delaware Avenue, were stunned
by severe fash which struck close to
them. Mr.. Day was knocked down,
and fan which was suspended by q
chin from Mrs. Days was torn away.
Fortunately bey ond the severe shock
neither sustained any injury.
George Midd.etown. boy Of 13,
while standing in the door of his
home, No, 8 West Fourth street, was
SO severely shocked by close fash.
that DR.. Grimshaw had to be called to
his assistance. He felt the effects for
| several hours.
HOUSES AND TREES STRUCK.
! The House house of Joshua Taggart
No. 22O French street, was struck by
lightning, which tore the cornice from
the south east corner. but did no fur
ther damage. The house is four stories
high, and the family, being on the
lower floor, did not feel the shock, ,and
were not aware until after the storm
that the house had been struck.
A tree in front of A. d. Vandever's
store, No. 100 E. Fourth street, was
struck and stripped of two large