The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-06
FOURTH OF JULY HORROR.
me Frishitul Death OF seven
Persons and Injury of Others,

The FFighifuI Death Of Seven
Persons and Injury Of Others,
Pittiburgh D.Paieh Of Yesterday.
One Of the most terrible disasters that
ever occurred in this vicinity took plsee
yesterday afternoon about four o'clock Al
the Sugar Camp, on the Ross farm, where.
by seven persons Lost their lives, and
about nine were badly wounded. Tbs
circumstances are As follows Four pic
mic parties, one from the German Lu-
therHn Church at shArpsburg, one from
the United Presbyterian Church Of Etna,
one from the Presbyterian Church Of
sharpsburg, and the GymnAstic Club, oil
Allegheny, celebrated the Fourth At the
above named place. The former, the
German Lutheran, participated in their
festivities in the midst Of the old Sugar
Camp, q short distance from the others.
A large number were present. including
the pastor Of the church, Rev. Charles
Waltz, and his family.
All we're enjoying the day 10 their ut.
most when the storm suddenly swept
through the grove, uprooting trees, some
forty or fifty being torn up. The rain
fell in torrents, and the lightning was so
vivid that many Of the participants were
almost blinded.
A number from the German Lutheran
Church sought shelter from the storm
in large, covered grocery wagon, owned
BY Mr.. Conrad Keithmiller, the horses
having been detached. The wagon stood
by large sugar tree, probably three feet
in diameter two feet from the roots. They
had no sooner got safely within it when
the storm broke over il with renewed
fury. A thunderbolt struck the tree,
splitting Il, and the hurricane assisted In
breaking Il of at the roots. Il fell With
4 terrible crash on TO the wagon, smash.
ing 1t TO atom, and killing almOst Instant
ly nearly every person inside and badly
injnring the others. At the same time
several large trees in the immediate Vi
cinity were Frustrated in various direo.
lions, falling upon children, who were
not quick enough to escape from under
them.
Il il singular more were not killed or
Injured. The rain was 80 heavy and the
lightning 90 vivid, fash after fash follow
ing each other in rapid succession, that
the children, and even the older ones,
were 90 frightened, and almost blinded,
that they could scarcely see before them.
They became beWildered and ran they
knew not whittier. Preacher Waltz, who
was injured himself, though not seriously,
attempted at first to check the panic that
ensued, but finding his efforts in vain, be-
came himself wild with excitement, and
was subsequently removed from the grove,
after the storm had abated, to his resi-
depce at Sharpsburg, where st last &C
counts his mental condition was such
that his friends were compelled to watch
him, fearing he might do himself injury.
The death Of his son Ludwig, nine years
old who was one Of the number killed in
the wagon, was reported in his presence,
but he failed 10 comprehend the sad news.
In fact his mind was gone.
When the fatal result Of the storm had
been announced, Joseph Holtzheimer, tie
undertaken OF ShArpsburg, who was in the
grove, had the corpses taken to his under.
taking rooms, some Of which were subse.
quently removed to other localities in
the town. The news spread like wildfre,
and in a short time number OF wagons
and other conyeyances were sent from
Sharpsburg 10 the scene Of disaster, and
the wounded conveyed to their various
homes,
The scene that followed beggars de.
scription. Mothers, fathers, brothers
and sisters rushed 10 the wagons and TO
the undertaker's rooms, wailing in bitter
anguish. Some tore their hair out BY
the roots, bemoaning in the widest &C.
cents the untimely fate Of their relatives.
Their friends epdeayored to console them,
but II was in vain, When our reporter
left the lssne they were still wildly la
mentipg over the remAins Of the dead
and those who were lying in the vicinity
seriously injured.