The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-07-11

The burglar scare and agitation among our
citizens for the past few days has been great.
In addition to the several burglaric that
have lately actually been committed, there
is no end to the rumors OF attempts that
have been made. The excitement was IN
tense Sunday morning when it was related
/ how. during the still watches of the previous
night, burglars had attempted to enter the
/ house of Mr. Samuel Hunsecker, and were
only deferred by the Major opening u fusi-
lade on them from within, the darkness of
the night alone preventing him from
mounting his gallant bay and pursuing
them as they fed. Sunday night as Mrs.
Ed Mcdowell was going into her house after
church, q man rushed past her on the stairs,
and escaped through the open door. Mrs.
Mcdowell screamed, and every person on
the street rushed in. A hasty inventory of
household goods and stock was taken, when
it was found nothing was missing. The men
who hadn't reyolvers purchased them on
their way home, and If the next fellow who
attempts to commit burglary in Somerset
isn't perforated, we miss our guess.
Ell III & ~
SrRrcK BY LIGHTNISG.-Whiles standing in
the door of Fleck's livery stable, during the
prevalence of a severe rain and thunder
storm at about halfp past four clock. Thurs
day afternoon, Mr.. Jacob J. Berkeybile was
struck by lightning. He had on an "elec-
tric hat" that is, a cloth hat with q wire
running around the inside Of the crown,
with a small steel plate on either side. The
bolt OF lightning struck the sign on the
cone of the roof and ploughed groove
down through the centre of the building
striking Mr.. Bsykeybile, who was standing
uing down his neck to his shoulders, cross
ing his breast about half an inch above his
heart, thence pursuing its downward course
along his right leg to the sole of his foot. At
the time he was struck he fell backward to
the ground as though shot, and those who
picked him up and carried him into DR..
VIM. Rauch's Office thought he was dead. !
The Doctor at once discovered their mis- |
take and went to work rubbing him vigor-
ously, and applying other means to restore
him TO consciousness which he succeeded in
doing in the course OF half an hour. He |
suffered intense pain in his chest during the |
greater part of the night. but in the morn
ing was feeling much easier, and had 50 far |
from the Doctors office to his hotel. Sat |
urday he was able to be on the street for |
little while, and thinks in few days he
will again be able to be about and attending |
to business The electric fluid burned the /
flesh in a narrow strip from his head TO his I
foot, with the exception of about thee inch !
es near hi. hip where 1t came in contact !
with his watch His hat was terribly de-
moralized and his clothing was badly torn. |
His right boot was stripped from his foot, !
and his neck tie was cut into three pieces.
His collar button was broken in two pieces, |
one piece burning hole in his neck. A
lot Of silver coin in his pantaloons pocket /
was scattered in a circle about him, some Of
them being thoroughly fused. The silk in
his watch fob was entirely consumed by the
fluid and the other portions of the fob melt
ed to pieces. His silver hunting case watch
was picked up several feet from where he
fell with the top of the ring melted, and a
nickle neatly soldered to the case. That
Mr. Berkeybile escaped with his life is al
most miraculous. Mr.. Jacob Fleck, who
was standing within few inches of him at
the time, was somewhat stunned and badly
as well he might be, but was
otherwise uniDjured.