Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-10
A WONDERFUL ESCAPE.
House Full of People struck by
Lightning and no One Killed.
Reading (Penn.l Times.

Reading (Penn) Times.
A party of Reading people, pleasure
seekers at Cape May Point, had fright
full experience on Saturday last. The
party consisted of Mr.. and Mrs. A. K.
Stauffer and family, Misses Annie and
Lou Stewart, Misses Anna and Belle
Ebur, Miss Mary Hester, and Miss
Bessie Stevens, Of Reading, and Miss
Nellie Gait, of Pottsville. The follow
ing letter from one of the young ladies
describes their remarkable escape:
DEAR P: Mr.. s., as you aware,
was in Reading on Saturday, when the
dreadful event, which l will try to de-
scribe, befell US. There were five of us
in the parlor reading; Annie and Belle
E. were in the next room, a bed room /;
Mrs. s.. with the children, was in the
second story mapping, or at least trying
dining room, 1t had rained in torrents
for long time, and lightened and
Numbered also: but, all of a sudden,
there came a fearful flash and crash,
and we were struck perfectly dumb
with fear. We all went into Annie and
Bellies room, and stood completely awed !;
it was filed with smoke and the smell of
birthstone. Annie was right by the
window, sitting on the bed, when the
stroke came. The window was complete
pletelY shattered, the shutters taken off.
and the glass smashed. The frame struck
Annie as it fell, but she miracuously es-
capedinjury. Belle was further hack on
the bed, and was also unhurt. Annie and
Belle were like statues. thought Annie
was struck, but it was only fright, and she
soon recovered herself and became quite
self-pOssessed, but Belle was like one in
sane; she walked about and wrung her
hands in the most frantic manner, and
Nell was seized with mysteries. Little
Keim's arm was numbed, but by rubbing
and bathing it got all right again. We
sent for a physician for Nell, and in
about an hours time she became herself
again. 1t was fearful experience, and
one which trust we may never be called
upon to pass through second time.
But the lightning did not strike in
this one place only; it seemed to pass all
around the cottage. The dining room
wall was knocked down, a lamp upset
on the floor, and dishes strewn in all
directions; the window was completely
demolished, and the girl was standing
within one foot of where the flash
passed through. 1t is certainly miracu-
lous how she escaped alive, but
she was not even stunned, al
though she was thrown down by the
shock. The kitchen took fire, the light
ming having struck the stove, but by the
thoughtfulness and bravery of Writ the
fire was extinguished, and we were saved
from injury in that way. Two rooms in
the back building, second floor, had all
the wall knocked down and the roof
partly taken off. Indeed, there was not
one room in the entire house that was not
touched, and yet no one was hurt. We
all feel most thankful to kind Provi.
dence, assure you. Every one has been
very kind, and many came to examine
the ruins and offer their services. Writ
went for carpenter, who Immediately
fixed things in such way as to make it
safe for us to stay In few days every
thing will be made right. We all felt
like going home at once, but soon got
over that feeling. We are quite jolly
again, and are considered very inter
esting crowd. On all sides we hear our
selves called the lightning struck party
Most lovingly yours.