New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-31
LIGHTNING AT MT. McGREGOR.
BOLT STRIKES THE DRExEL COTTAGE.
THR ELECTRICITY PLAYS AROUND THE HOTEL ANN
KNOCKS TWO OFFICERS sENsYLYss.
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRterxv,

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KNOCKS TWO OFFICERS sENsHLYss
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuSE1
Mt. MCGREGoR, July 3O.-Lightning marked
the spot yesterday where General Grant to be buried
to-day the cottage In which General Grant lies awaiting
burial received visitation from the lightning. Heavy
clouds gsthercd Mt. McGreg0r this evening and
shortly afer6 o'clock tho rain fell heavily 90 90 20
render necessary the posponemen Of the guard mount
which Wis to have taken place in front OF tho hotel
Then II cleared up and followed By some rumbling
OF thunder and flashes OF lightning, but nothing of a
character to occasion alarm even to mid women few
minutes before there terrific crash followed BY
binding flash and report like a voliey from platoon
OF husKctry For msment the lightning seemed be
everywhere then silence reiSned again. The hotel uses
electric lights, the electricity being supplied by ma.
chine on he premises. The hotel s traversed in all
directions by wires aud they convey electricity to tho
Drexel cottage and the little Mt. McGregor depot,
Electric lights suspended from the covered
arcade leading to this depot, and they arc dis
posed In various places about tho grounds,
SO everything seemed ready laid spread the fluid in
all directions. The lightning first struck tho Drexel
cottage and Immediately the lights put out includ-
Ing that which hangs over tue face Of the dead man.
few states were ratified of the roof Colonel Grant i'm
mediaely went all over the house, but found that ne
burning md quiet was restored In the household.
General r. H. jackson. OF the 9th Artillery Governors
the artillery was walking with Colonel w. r. Beck also
OF the 9th Artillery, through the covered
the eastern outlook Lieutenant A. W. Vogdes had just
reported to him that additional guard would be res
CURED to look after the which Is being draped
for the reception OF the coffin. All three going to
the camp 70 look after the matter Lieutenant Voxdcs
was a few feet behind General Jackson and Colonel
Beck They bad gone about twOthirds OF the distance
through the arcade when the crash came and
the binding lightning General Jackson and Colonel
Beck both fell to the ground. General Jackson fall.
Ing on his face with such violence that the
blood 1owed freely. Lieutenant Vogdes experienced
only slight shock and Immediately turned his assist
consciousness but General Jackson remained stunned
for some Time They both carried the hotel on
mattresses which the soldiers hastily brought and Dr.
Douglas attended them. Colonel Beck was able
General Jackson recovered more slowly; It viii
take couple OF days 10 remove the traces OF the
der his eye. Neither burned by the electric
fluid. The wires which along the roof OF the arcade
were evidently surcharged with electricity and jumped
to the men beneath
In the hotel the lightning played all sorts Of freaks
bolt entered the dining-room Jumped from wire to
pipe and disappeared, slightly charring wood
work Tne guests were at dinner at the time and
Tor time badly frightened. There three instrl-
out. Operator Frank" KisselbOugh was at ono
Of tho keys with his finger the metallic arm.
suddenly occurred TO him that with lightning playing
about the rubber button would be a safer point OF
tact and lie had hardly ira nserred his finger when
a stream OF lightning issued from tho switcn-
shoulder, danced about the room like ball OF fire aud
disappeared The lightning burned the electric light
wires leading TO Mr. Arksrs cottage, broke couple of
panes OF glass in the laundry and upset woman there
but did not seriously hurt her. Several people about tho
ground received shocks
The Lightning entered the Grant cottage through tho
roof and tore on tile pasterng Tie electric light above
the collin was also put out.