The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1878-04-25
The Fatal Liqhming.

The storm which visited this locality,
early Monday morning Was accompa-
MED by an unusual amount Of light
ming, and IL Is not strange that some
portion of the terrible agent should
find Its way to work destruction to the
dwellings OF inhabitants, II not to take
human life., That it did destroy q
dwelling and indirectly caused the
death of q human being, may be seen
by the following narrative:
Alex. Ashby was settler living, with
wife, three children, two girls and q
boy baby two years old, and his aged
mother-in small one-story log dwell
ling on the homestead of Alonzo Smith,
in Elk township; about 8 miles north
west Of Baldwin. Mr.. Ashby had been
at home during the greater part of the
day, Sunday, but in the afternoon had
returned to the lumber camp of Jones
& Hollister,in Webber township, where
he was employed-so as to be ready to
commence work Monday morning.
The house was divided into apart
ments, and the old lady and oldest girl
occupied bed In one room, while Mrs.
Ashby baby and the unfortunate girl-a
deaf mute, six years old-which lost Its
life, slept In another room, their bed
being at the corner of the structure
where 1t Is supposed the lightning en-
tered. 1t must have been between
and o'clock in the morning when the
bolt struck. The old lady and the child
with her were awakened by the stun
ming report and being unharmed and
finding the house on fire they ran into
the room occupied by the other three.
Mrs. Asliby was inscnsible. With
great effort they succeeded I'm dragging
her out of the building. An effort
was then made by the old lady and the
child to save some of the clothing, bed
ding and furniture, but the building
being of pine, the flames made rapid
headway, so that only some bedding
was got out, and part of that afterwards
burned; having been left too near the
building.
During the excitement the six-year-
old child (which, in addition to its 9TH
er mlsfortunes, was simple-minded-
found its way back into the burning
structure, crouching in one corner, and
her absence was not noticed until too
late to attempt rescue. The body was
almost wholly consumed; nothing but
charred object remaining, which
could scarcely he recognized as the re-
mains of human form. Mrs. Ashby
was found IN have received severe burns
OH the breast and fore part Of the body.
During all the fearful scene the storm
had ragged with unceasing fury; the
rain pouring down in torrents, accom-
panied by constant flashes of ofliglltning
and dcafening peals of thunder. While
Mrs. Ashby took refuge in the stable,
the old lady and girl (about 8 years old
started to go to the nea rest neiyhbor-
N. Lucas, about two miles distant
fer help. The old lady (s5 years ofage)
was too feeble to travel the distance,
and was compelled to stop by the way,
which gave rise to report at first that
she too was lost. The little girl reached
Mr.. Lucas, but he was absent, also, In
camp. Word was then sent to J. Han
csc, who in turn sent his son over to
N. I. Kinne, with request that he
would come to town and procure . ply
sician and inform Mr.. Ashby; while he
(Hanese) started to convey Mrs. Ashby
to shelter where she could he cared for.
He found the old lady sitting 10y the
roadside, exhausted and bewildered,
and a severe bruise or cut OH her fore
head, caused by stumbling and falling.
The unfortunate family was conveyed
to the house of Mr.. Lucas, where eve-
rything possible was done to relieve.
DIR. Mott dressed the burns of Mrs. Ash
by, which he pronounces dangerous,
but thinks she will recover, with pro-
per care. The baby was also, severely
burned, but not dangerously.
BY this calamity a family circle is
broken, and the surviving members
left almost Totally destitute. The case
is one which calls for deepest sympathy
from the community; and any substan-
tial aid which our people feel able to
render would doubtless be worthily be-
slowed aud than kfully received. The
family Is at the house Of N. Lucas, at
present.