The New York herald., 1878-07-11
THE STORM.
wo woRKMEN ON CHURCH TOWER STRUCK
BY THE FIRST FLASH OF YESTERDAYS

wo woRKMrN ON A CHURCH TOWER STRUCK
BIZ THE FIRST FLASH OF YESTERDAYS
sToRM--oNE KILLED OUTRIGHT.
The bright fash OF lightning which served as pre-
uds yesterdays rain storm in this city espe-
rially yivid in the direction OF Ftyscventh street
and broadway, and the terrible thunder clap which
followed II sounded with deafcning forcs just over
tho heads Of those who ia that neighbor-
hood. Their eyes had searooiy recovered from the
glare whom they drawn 10 the base OF the tower
OF the Central Presbyterian Church by tho cries OF
some workmen engaged about IL who discovered that
one OF their number had fallen from the top OF tho
tower. This found 10 ne quite dead, and in
. lew minutes IL asccrtained that. another
workman engaged on the building had been severely
scorchcd by the lightning ana was in need OF immo-
date medical treatment Tho body OF the dead man,
whose namc was soon generally known to bc Edward
White was carried INTO the church and laid ON OF
the benches An ambulance arrived on the scenc
and conveyed the wounded man. Bernard Gray, TO the
Roosevelt Hospital
SWIFT FATALITY.
HERALD reporter visited tho neghborhood OF the
occurrence last evening, and In conversation with
oumbcr OF eyewitncsses and friends OF the victims
learned tho following partcularsrhc Central Pres
byterian Church. at which tho were working rs
situated on tho soutp side OF West Fiily-seventn
street, about midway between Broadway ana
s Eshth avenue 1t Is ,.an new building; ,., and
the masonry the SIDE OF the bell tower, which
projects about twelve or fifteen feet IN front OF the
main building. Edward White, who a stone
mason by trade, seated on little platform, sus-
pended by ropes and blocks from the coping Of the
tower wall. Al the time OF the accdcnt IT was stu
ated at height OF about sixty feet from the ground
He working at window. ana Bernard Gray, who
rs q laboTer attending hIm IRON inside
the tower. Wncn tho heavy thunder clouds be.
gan 10 gather at a little alter four O'Clock, ap
prene nsion was felt Tor their safety account OF
hetr oxn O
been OF no risk, and continued work
ing as no rain had yet begun TO fall Suddenly, at
about twenty minutes FIVE O'Clock, the Storm
opened with a terrible burst OF fame which Tor II
ond cnveloped the TWO men, An eyewitness said,
ment, but the minute could see
looked toEard the platform where knew
the same limc crowd running toward the tow or.
ran there ,oo ana found him lying al the foot Of the
wall, quite dead"
White was killed by electric power Of tho light
ming, without tho smallest visible effect beng pro
ground from the great height at which he had beon.
The only additional injury sustained was slight
ABRASION forehead. Grays clothing scorchod
tinder Dy tne flame the flesh oil his chest,
abdomen and thighs was severely burned He fell
back about i've feet into the tower and was shortly
Riicr found there and cared for. Inquiries were made
hospital last night HIS injuries described
Ms being serious but VIII probably not prove fatal
He suffered groat pain tor lime, but eventually
fell asleep under influence OF "a soporic IN edlc no
adm nistered 10 him. During the evening he was
visited by ms wife and daughter, and other relatives
ana friends.
VICTIMS.
The greatest sorrow prevails among his acQuant
apccs for the nntney iatc Of poor Edward White.
He was line young fellow OF thirty years OF age,
At his trade, honest, Industrious eood-na
tnred. He boarded No. 81 Fourth avenue
Deputy Coroner Goidschmidt examined his
body last night and granted per.
nri for Its removal TO hts father, who
lives In Morrisania. he have been married
week, and for time pnst In the highest
spirits on account OF his approaching nuptials
The other man. Bernard Gray, Is n day lsbJrer. He
Is thirty years old. and vile aud daughter
He resides at No 416 Second avenue. He also IL
regarded by those who know him a worthy and
industrious man,