The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-10
KILLED by LIGHTNING.
Two Little Girls Struck Dead In Each
Otiier's Arms.
Nc,p York Herald.

Emily and Ada Wiswall, sisters, aget
respectively seven and five years, while
seated one afternoon last week in the
garden that surrounds the residence o.
their parents, at 18th street and Fulton
avenue, were struck by lightning and in.
stahtly killed. The dwelling is situated
on a rocky eminence and is Embedded in
a forest OF hickory, cedar and cherry
trees. 1t is two story frame structure
anu Is picturesquely situated. From it's
isolated position and the deep shade in
which it is embowered, the place was To-.
cnliy known by the name Of "The Rob-
bins Nest" Here Mr.. and Mrs. Wiswall
resided,wi their three children. George.
tho eldest, who is nine years of age, re-.
sides with his grandfather, Mr.. Adam
Kerr, who occupies comfortable home
stead across the street. Mr.. Kerr is a
salesman at Arnold & Constable's. The
boy had crossed over and was about open.
ing the latticed gate which leads to his
parents residence when the fatal bolt
descended about dozen yards distant.
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 warming of an an.
preaching storm, Mr.. and Mrs. Wiswall
went to the side entrance where they re.
mained for a moment talking. In the
meantime the two children had hurried
from the house and taken their position
under the shade of two towering oaks.
These were situated about three feet
apart, the trunks Mt the base becoming
lntertwincd in knotty protuberance.
The trees are close to the gravelled walk
which leads to the house from the en-
trance on 10th street, and are connected
by seat which forms an attractive re-
treat from the fierce glare of the sun.
Here the children, having left the dining
room, hastened to enjoy nursery book.
Emily was prccocious child for her
years, handsome and vivacious. They
were very much attached to each other
and were inseparable companions in
their studies and amusemenls. She was
seated next the tree further removed
from the street, and held the open book
in her lap while both children nestled
1.1suiy together 10 rclu the book. The
that they continued 10 w:tcl. the move
ments OF their children, deeply interest
ed in what was taking place.
THE LIGHTNING STROKE.
at this moment the gathering storm
began to break in large drops of rain.
Mr.. 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 innocent
enjoyment. Suddenly the increasing
gloom deepened and q bright and blind
ing flash, followed almost simultaneously
by deafening crash, startled MIR. and
Mrs. Wiswall The next moment they
realized their terrible calamity. The
thunderbolt had descended and struck
dead their children. Emily sat upright
on the seat in q natural position, still
retaining in her lap the outepread book.
Her features showed no indication that
lie was extinct. Her large dark eyes
were wide staring, and pleased express
sion illuminated her countenance. Ada
had fallen or was hurled from the seat.
She was yet alive, bat unconscious. A
messenger was at once despatched for
medical attendance, and Dir. Comfort
who resides in the neighborhood, prompt
ly responded. Before his arrival, how
ever, the little one had expi-ad. The
grief of the heart broken pan, 3 over
the sudden and untimely loss of their
children, who but moment before were
in the enjoyment of health, WAS most
affecting. The unhappy mother won't
into Mysteries, and the anguish of Mr.
Wiswall, although not so dcmonstrative,
was equally intense. The lutter is super
intcndent of the car shops of the Har-
lem River Railroad. He was deyotedlv
attached to his children, and the sudden
bereavement has nearly affected his rea-
son.
APPEARANCE OF THE BODIES.
The lifeless forms of the little ones
were ut once placed in charge of an un-
dertaker. Their clothing was burned in
several parts by the electric fluid. Emil
ly's garments, in particular, were singed
to deep brown. Her stockings and
underwear were damaged much more
than her outer clothing. The children
had not been dead an hour when their
skin became discolored 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 III they lay
together in single casket, dressed out
in muslih wrappers, with their tiny fold
cd hands, looked as if asleep The pa
rents, friends and other members of the
household, to whom the children were
cndeared by association, crowded tho
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.
Miss Coyle rents the premises and oc-
cupies them in part with the Wiswall
family. She keeps a pirate school in
the back part of the first l:oor and occu-
pies sleeping apartments up stairs. She
| said in speaking of the death of the
twe little children: ~ had Goac &c ::,y
room and WAS reclining on lounge
reading. Suddenly the leaves of the
book became Illuminated and my eyes
were dazzled with the glare. An awful
noise shook the house and nearly fright
ened me to death. l thought the place
had tumbled about our ears. had not
time to recover my presence of mind
when heard prolonged cry of distress
down stairs. Something told me at the
time that terrible catastrophe had taken
place. | hurried down stairs as fast as
my fright would enable me. When
reached the garden was confronted with
two dead children. l was almost paral-
yzad at the sight. The children were as
dear to me rs if they had been my own.
Last Friday we held our commencement
and little Emily distinguished herself
among all the other children for her
smartness and goodness. She recited a
piece called ''The Merry Brown Thrush
with much feeling and taste, the burden
of which was that the world was running
over with joy, and none but good people
~ Il