Connecticut western news., 1879-07-09
Killed by Lightning.
TWO LITTLE GIRLS STRUCK DEAD IN EACH
 OTHERS ARMS.

The story of the two little girls killed at Harlem, N. Y, by lightning, is a sad one.
 Emily and Ada Wiswall, sisters, aged respectively seven and five years, while seated in the garden that surrounds the residence of their parents, were struck by lightning and instantly killed. The dwelling is situated on rocky emi- hence and is embeded in 8 forest of hickory, cedar and cherry trees. It is Q two story frame structure, and is pie turesquely situated. From it's isolated position and the deep shade in which it IS embowered, the place was locally known by the name of "The Robins Nest." Here MT. and Mrs. Wiswall re- sided, with their three children. George, the eldest, who is nine years of age, re- sides with his grandfather, MT. Adam Kerr, who occupies comfortable home. stead across the street. MT. Kerr is a salesman at Arnold & Constable's. The boy had crossed over and was about opening the latticed gate which leads to his parents residence when the fatal bolt descended about dozen yards dis tant, causing the instant death of his two little sisters. The family had retired from the dining room to the parlor. When an overcast sky gave warning of an approaching storm, MT. and Mrs. Wlswal went to the side entrance where they remained for moment talking. In the meantime the two children had hur- ried from the house and taken their po- sition under the shade of two towering oaks. These were situated about three feet apart, the trunks at the base becom- ing intertwined in knotty protuber- ance. The trees are close to the gray eled path which leads to the house from the entrance on 17Oth street, and are connected by seat which forms an attractive retreat from the fierce glare of the sun. Here the children, having nursery book. Emily was a preco- clous child for her years, handsome and vlvaclous. They were very much at tached to each other and were insepara- ble companions in their studies and amusements. She was seated next the tree further removed from the street and held the open book in her lap while both children nestled closely together to read the book. The picture was so pleasant to the parents that they continued to watch the movements of their children, deeply interested in what was taking place.
 At this moment the gathering storm began to break in large drops of rain. MT. Wiswall made forward movement to interrupt the children in their studies, bent upon bringing them into the house before the threatened shower increased, but he hesitated to disturb their inno- cent enjoyment. Suddenly the increas- ing gloom deepened, and bright and blindng flash, followed almost simulta- neously by 8 deafening crash, startled MT. and Mrs. Wiswall. The next mo- ment they realized their terrible calam- ity. The thunderbolt had descended and struck dead their children. Emily sat upright on the seat in natural posi- tlon, still retaining in her lap the out spread book. Her features showed no indication that life was extinct. Her large, dark eyes were wide staring, and pleased expression illuminated her countenance. Ada had fallen, or was frnnO fhn af alive, but unconscious. A messenger was at once dispatched for medical a5- tendance, and Dr. Comfort, who resides in the neighborhood, promptly respond. ed. Before his arrival, however, the little one had expired. The grief of the heart-broken parents over the sudden and untimely loss of their children, who but moment before was in the enjoy ment of health, was most affecting. The unhappy mother went into hystercs, and the anguish of MT. Wiswall, al- though not 50 demonstratlve, was equally intense. The latter is superintendent of the car shops of the Harlem River Railroad. He was devotedly attached to his children, and the sudden bereave- ment has nearly affected his reason.
 The lifeless forms of the little ones were at once placed in charge of an un- dertaker. Their clothing was burned in several parts by the electric fluid. Emily's garments, in particular, were singed to 8 deep brown. Her stockings and underwear were damaged much more than her outer clothing. The children had not been dead more than an hour when their skin became discol- ored in parts. The right cheek, side and hand of Emily turned purplish, and similar marks made their appearance on the face and limbs of little Ada, Both children as they lay together in single casket, dressed out in muslin wrappers, with their tiny folded hands, looked as if asleep. The parents, friends and other members of the household, to whom the children were endeared by association, crowded the dwelling and could not conceal their sorrow. The parents became so frantic that they had to be removed from the presence of their dead children and kept apart under friendly restraint. .
 MT. Danfeld, who resides in the neighborhood, had hurried out of his house at the approach of the storm in search of his grandchild. The latter was standing at the gate, close to Geor- gie Wiswall, when the thunderbolt de- soended few yards distant. MT. Dan-