The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-19
GREAT STORM IN CANADA.
Many People Killed by Lightning, and Crops
and Property Seriously Damaged.

CHICAGO, Aug. 1S-A dispatch from Montreal
regarding the great storm briefly mentioned in
last nights dispatches. says: "a thunderstorm
that passed over eastern Ontario and the whole
of Quebec, Thursday and yesterday was the
most terrific ever known here Hundreds Of
houses and barns have been burned and blown
down. Crops are in many places entirely de-
stroyed. Horses and cattle by the hundred
have been killed, and many people are lost
Reports are just beginning to come in from the
surrounding country, and the list Of people
killed is rapidly increasing. At small village
called St Louis de Gonzague. Captain Louis
Sauve. his wife, son and daughter were sitting
in their kitchen, when several bolts of light
ming struck the house at the same time.
The building seemed to collapse.
and then caught fire. The flood
of rain extinguished the fire, and those
villagers who were not panic-ssrieken dragged
the family from the debris but it was found
that. while none had even been cut by the fall
ing house. the whole family had been struck by
lightning. Father, wife and son were instantly
killed. The daughter cannot live. A laborer.
whose name Is unknown, employed on the
Sauve farm. WAS also killed by bolt that struck
the barn half an hour after the house was
struck. At St Ignace, Geo. L. Lorimer was
killed by a tree, which had been struck by
lightning. falling upon him. In ST. Hyacinthe,
the son Of a hotel proprietor, while closing the
window of his room was killed. report comes
from Chaudiere that two lumbermen were
swept over the falls while crossing the river.
Lightning struck their canoe, and they were
swept to death in the raging river. The hotel
at Smiths mills was set on fire, and. it is re-
ported, the wife of the proprietor died from
fright.
From all over Quebec come reports OF houses
being set on fire and families left destitute and
in a small place called Original. the parish
cbNrch was struck by lightning. The place was
full of people at the time, who were praying for
protection from the storm. A panic ensued and
many people were seriously injured by being
irampled upon. To the supersiItons French
Canadian Catholics the storm frightful
The churches were fairly besieged. and priests
/ in many places held masses at Inidnighr and
every hour thereafter during the prevalence of
sthe storm.
In this city all the electric lights went out,
and in the big hotels there small panics
among the guests. The Balmoral Hotel was
struck by the electric fluid and corner of the
roof shattered, but the fire was easily extin-
guished. The postofhce dome was struck, and
the machinery of the four big clocks badly dis
arranged The electric iehting company's sta
tion was set on fire and badly damaged Trees
were torn up telegraph poles blown down. and
miles of telegraph. telephone, and electric light
wires were entirely burned out by the lightning.
| Ii is estimated that tie damage done by the
storm in this province alone viii reach over
| $500, 600. Reports from Valley Field, Beau
! harnsis county. state that five men have been
| killed by lightning in that vicinity. Great dam
| age has been done along the st. Louis river
! Houses and barns have been burned or swept
away, and it is impossible to approximate tho
| damage.