The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-09-10
A FATAL THUNDER-BOLT.
Killing of Four Persons by Stroke of
Lightning.

lS"hDy NHAihh"J Aso"s.l
Sunday afternoon, about alfpast o'clock
two of Mr.. LIE Suer's children, aged six and
five, came walking into town, bringing the
startling news that their father, mother, two
little sisters, little girl of William Dricken's,
of Fountain, d. T., and Will Date had all
been killed by 1.-The wind hitting them" The
alarm was soon given, and Immediately men
on foot and with teams started out in search,
previously knowing that the family were on
their way homeward from Mr.. William Pad
docks, living 10 or II miles north of town.
a severe rain-storm, accompanied by terrific
peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightn-
ing, had passed over town from the north
during the latter part of the afternoon, and
it was apparent TO all that they had been
struck with lightning. There are two we'll
travelled roads leading into town, in one of
which they were expected to be found. One
party, Mr.. Aosier and Mr.. Henretty, after
driving about two miles and half from town,
stopped to make inquiries at Mrs. Nubson's
house, where they were informed that "a
wagon load of the dead had just been sent to
Candy by Andrew Erickson" At this house
was one of the Inflated number Will Date
who, after lying for some time in an uncon-
scious state by the roadside, scrambled three
quarters of mile to this house and gave the
alarm. The light wagon containing the bodies
VI MIS- OucT, ucT tWO-l ear Olu Cullu anu Tile
body of Rosa Dricken was found south of the
creek near this house, and brought into town
about 10 o'clock. The appearance of the
corpses was CHASTITY indeed, all occupying
sitting posture on the seat on which they
were sitting when they received the death
dealing shock
In the meantime, knowing that all the
family had not been found Mr.. Moser and
Mr.. Henretty proceeded to the creek where
the light wagon had been found, and while
there he heard the cries of a child, and soon
after the groans ofsome one in terrible agony;
going in the direction of these sounds they
found Mr.. LIE Suer lying on his face about
two or three feet from the side of the road.
While these gentlemen were taking Mr.. LIE
Suer to the house, another party arrived at
the house, and then they all returned to the
creek, and hearing the cries of the child some
distance from the road, proceeded thence,
finding the little three year-old boy of Mr..
LIE Suer lying in the grass. What could
have been the feelings of that little one alone
upon the cold, wet prairie, under the circum-
stances, with hardly moonbeam to dispel
the total darkness, can be better imagined
than described.
While this party were taking care of the
little one a third party had started out on
the other road, had made the circuit, and,
from an opposite direction from that the other
| two parties had arrived, they found Mr.. LIE
Suer's dog dead in the road, about quarter
of q mile n orth of the creek where the
bodies had previously been found; and
Is feet further on from where
the dog lay they found the lifelcss form OF
the infant girl about two feet from the road
side, probably having been thrown there
when its mother was struck.
As has been previously stated, the light
wagon containing the corpses was found on
| the south side of the creek, at which place
one of the horses was found dead, fully q
| quarter of mile from where the infant and
dog lay. 1t is the general supposition, and
| it seems plausible, that one of the horses had
received part of the bolt, and ran thus fal
before life became extinct.
At the time of the casualty, as has subse.
quently been ascertained, Mr.. LIE Suer was
] on the right side of the front seat driving
and Will Date was sitting at his left, with
the three little boys that escaped uninjurec
sitting in front of them under the buffalo
robe. Mrs. lie Suer was sitting on the righ
side of the second seat holding her infant
in her lap, and carrying over her left shoulder
! a metallic pointed sunshade; Immediately a
her left sat her two-year girl, Mabel; at thu
end of the seat Rosa Drickens was sitting. i
is evident from the appearance of the corps
that Mrs. LIE Suer received the greatest par
day of the shock. The sunshade She used tina
had steel ribs covered with silk, and it j
thought by many that the electric fluid passet
down these ribs, striking Mr.. Date first oil
his right shoulder and Mr.. LIE Suer on hi
left shoulder, and SO on to the seat, partl.
melting the iron bolt, and then down to tn
ground across the axle of the wagon.