The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-12
TWO sTRUCK ny LIGHTNING.
The Freak of ThunderboIt- bernard
Gray was sinacd.


Tho Rev. DR.. Wilson'S church stands In
Flfyscventh street on the south side. between
Broadway md Seventh avenue. Although It is
nm old ednce. It is now TO the place. having
been removed stone by stone few years ago
from Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street. where
It was erected by the Rev. Dr. John Halls con-
gregation in 1886. II stands in one Of those
open spaces such ns are common to the upper
part Of the city. with unattraciivc surroundings.
Tho churchyard. however. has been laid out.
paved with smooth stone tagging and encir-
ced by nm iron foncc.
On Wednesday afternoon two men were ut
work on the exterior OF the church. which Is
nearly completed. They expected to finish
what there WINS TO be DOM on the outside that
day The names Of these workmen were Ed
ward White and Bernard Gray. White was a
stone mason and Gray was laborer. Both had
been hard ut work from early In the morning.
White had been sitting all day long in wooden
chair or sling. which was hung out Of q window
by block and tackle. chlsellng away at the
stones Of the tower. He had sat in his confined
seat until his legs were cramped and at last he
called out for his companion to hoist him up to
the window in order that he might get out and
rest himself briefly This was done. White
stretched his legs by taking q turn or two about
NE WOODEN scai.iulng inside the tower, ma
himself once more into his perch. He stopped
when he gotto the window.
TO his companion and I'll best wait till It's blown
over, don't want To get Il ducking,"
& H%2HS inpr' s ad hs d Of e pueS
rome. md, onning out OF the window, took u
2qE a, IN I'M ss G9n know he SAID
twas going to blow around after all, III get
out any way and take hand at those last three
boss to come aud find that lob hanging. 'Twont
take me ten minutes 70 finish It, When feol the
ilrst drop III call. aud then you can haul me in
Better wait. tn all be over In a quarter Of
al. hour" -..,
before il begins. Here goes"
% He reached out and drew In the wooden
sling, nni quickly seated himself In II. while
the other held fast ON the tackle The sling
consisted OF q board about two foet In length.
with four holes bored IN tho corners. through
which ran four ropes. The ropes were brought
all together abovei In q fast knot To the Knot
an iron ring was lashed and through the ring
block OF the hosting gear. After the stone
mason had seated himself in the sling the knot
In which the four ropes, ran together came Just
wise made back for the seat and afforded al
dltonal security TO the man who WAS in II.
White fixed himself and took hold OF the guy
1All right" no said. lower away"
the laborer let the rope slide slowly through
Thati do. Make fast"
Cray made n turn with the rope around a
poet inside the tower and knotted II securely.
The sling hung on the east side Of the tower.
eight feet below the window in which the labor
or WIS standing. and sixty feet above the stone
Tagging 81 the church yard. Az soon IA White
had reached the position he wished. and the
sling had boon mnde fnst. he took his hammer
nnd chisel in hand and set briskly to work. The
lthorcr leaned from the window and watched
MN rom above Meantime the storm was APP
nimble hammer the clouds rolled nearer They
seemed nearly % touch upon the sharp spire.
Tho wind blew in fierce gusts and rocked tho
sling in which sat the lusiv stomemnsom smit-
ing AWAY nj his ringing chsel. poised ike
storm bird. sixty feet w IN tue air
suddenly the wind died out The workman
stopped midway and looSed UP. 4 single heavy
drop oi rain Tell on his face. He dropped ham
nler md chisel in his lap. and laid hold VI tho
guy ROBES;
An right"
Pail Ike tho devil. or I shall get ducking."
The iaborcr sprang back, laid hand on the
rone. And hauled sharply down from the pulley
with the luli sweep ~ his arm, That instant n
binding fash played all around the tower. q ray
iei ny ON his lace On tho boards Of the scailold-
INK. The rope ran back through the pulley. and
the sling dropped down to is original position.
White WIS no longer in il. The same bolt had
smitten both. As the laborer tgppcd over. the
other eippru from his seat llfclcss. and shot
down through sixty feet of air to the stone flag
gng In the chur,hyard.
Gray was carried b. the Roosevelt Hospital
aud Yesterday hc was bright and talkative. and
narrated tn" experience Of himself and his
comrnde NJ 20 the moment OF the flash. Ho
VIII nave iully recovered IN a few days. The
lightning simply SKINNED over him. II struck
his b ead. burning a hole through his hat ana
singing his hair: then ran down both sides
c"sn behind his eors; Joined under his chin.
OF hair close or; PASSED over his abdomen, sep
arat"d agRin and ran down both legs and on M
ihe h.eis Inc lightning ran in fine lines, and
tho effect Of IL on the victim was that Of a hot
iron quickly tratlel over him