The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-20
LIGHTNING In RIVERDALE.
A FLASH THAT WRECKED 4 house AND
KILLED MART KELLY
Floors spiintered, walls Torn Out. Windows
Smashed, and Furniture Broken - The
Handsome Oner Of "a wealthy NeIRhbor.

Walter Kcly's two-story frame house at
Rivordale and Marshall avenues. Rverdalc.
was struck by lightning in Thursday after
Moons storm. Vivid flashes dartcd from peak
to peak Of tho ink-black clouds, and the thun-
der roared at about 3 o'clock. and Officer Van
ranst OF tho mounted police. gallopcd to the
gate. opened II. and, dismountng. led his horse
toward the barn. Mrs. Kelly's children ran to
the basement door to see him. Fanny Kelly.
eight years OF age. and Thomas. her six-ycar-
old brother, more cngcr to SEQ than the other
children. stepped beyond the threshold, being
sheltered from the rain by the porch. just rs
Officer Vanranst stepped into the doorway Of
the barn there was glazing fash Of light
ming, and tho deafening crash Of thun-
derbot. The officer fclt. he says.
mighty blow across his legs above tho knees.
and dizziness in his head. and he foil to the
ground. His horse staggered as II he had been
struck q stunning blow between tho eyes with
club. The dizziness passed away I'm n moment
and the officer looked toward the house. 1t APP
peared To bo complete ruin. and a little tongue
weather boarding of the southwest end. Tho
officer shouted " Firer and the neighbors.
hearing the cry, nocked TO give assistance. The
IRE vas speedily quenchcd; Then the officer
and the neighbois found Fanny aud Thomas
lying. seemingly UNCONSCIOUS, ut the basement
door. Fanny was dead. but Thomas soon re-
covered consciousness. In tho meanwhile Mrs.
Kelly passed from one faint TO another.
The lightning. seemingly. entered an open
window at the southwest end of the house in
the form Of n ball of fire. II burst. and tho
outer walls were blown bodily out, the ceiling
was riddled and the floor was torn to spln-
tcrs. Some hams and barrel OF waste paper
In the basement were fred. and blaze sprang
up. The lightning was divided. seemingly,
into three currents. One eaped through the
partition wall TO tho southeast corner OF the
house. and tore out section ~ tho rear wall.
Another dared upward toward the northeast
corner OF the house. smashing the furniture Of
the rooms in its way and burst out The third
crushed straight toward the front Of the house.
II graz"d the outer basement wall and flashed
out of the open door, killing Fanny Kelly and
stunning Thomas Kelly. A cedar post one of
the supports Of the porch. wns halved IA though
II was ptprstem, and the halves flew in oppo-
site directions Every pane Of glass in the
second story and in the basement WAS blown
out the doors were shaken from the hinges
and the plaster fell In blk patches from the
ceilings and the walls.
Those who prepared little Fannys remains
Tor the grave could not find any wound made
by the lightning. The face was rs composed ~
OF Agrrs cNpr"ss wagon said that he saw the
flash that killed the child. 1t cast a sickly white
glare over the sky His horse ran away.
MIR. Kelly has received much sympathy from
some OF tho residents of Riverdnle. One Of
them wealthy gentleman, called upon him on
Thursday evening Mr.. Kelly said. and told him
10 have the house rebuilt and to send the bills
y him. The neighbors offered shelter to Mr..
Kelly and his family hut they preferred 90 stay
IN the two or three upper rooms that were not
torn open by the lightning.