The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-26
AN ELECTRIC TEMPEST
lightning, Wind and Rain Play
Havoc in Canada.
Death and Destruction During
Furious Thunder Storm.

A severe thunder storm passed over eue
bee and the eastern portion Of Ontario, in
Canada, early Friday morning that proves
to be the worst ever known there. Crops
were totally destroyed, houses and barns
blown down and burned, hundreds OF horses
and cattle killed and great number of lives
lost
The storm was particularly severe in the
parish of st. Zotique, two miles from Coteau,
and more especially in the townships of st:
Catherine and st. Thomas. The widow OF
Joachim Bissonett of st. Zotique was killed
under the ruins of her house, which
was struck by lightning. Many persons
received severe injuries, and one
Jean Mcntpetit of ST. Thomas had his arm
broken. In the same township seven houses
were completely demolished and the occu-
pants left without any shelter. The ravages
of the tempest were felt for considerable
distance along the lake shore, and in several
places the public highway was strewn with
the ruins of the demolished buildings.
At Valley6eld, across the River St. Law,
renee. from Montreal, shortly before II
o'clock, yelow-edged cloud in funnel shape,
appeared in the west and crossed the road
leading to Ormstown, about two miles from
there. Just on the other side Of the road 1t
struck the farmhouse of Andrew Jones.
In moment the entire house
was demolished, and the mate
rial which composed it was scat
tered far and wide over the fields. A we'll
to.do farmer named Andrew Monteith, near
Rondeuf, was buried under the RUNS OF ms
house and received injuries Of which he died
that evening. At the st. Louis River the
devastation was frightful. Right near the
bank of the river stood the house OF
farmer named Phineas Sauve. Mr.. Sauve,
his wife, his children, his hired girl,
and his sister had noticed the approach of the
storm too late, and the cloud swept over the
house and demolished it, burying under Its
Sni cSea the unapPg PPyuad family by ths seares
party which was organized. in the
St. Louis River. Mr.. Sauve himself was
found dead with a picket through his
breast, and Mrs. Sauve, her hired girl, and
MIR. Sauve's sister were found crushed BY
the ruins and quite dead. Two Of the serv.
ants in the house who were found in the de-
bris were very seriously injured by falling
wrecked and four barns were leveled to the
ground. The seven persons who were in the
house when the storm approached were all
more or less injured, some very seriously.
Here, as we'll as in other places, the barns
were we'll stocked with grain Of all kinds and
hay which was all destroyed.
! At st. Louis the Beaunarnois Agricultural
Society had their house, occupied by Messrs.
iDaignault, father and son, and two magni-
'6cent barns were completely wrecked by the
tornado. Mr.. Daguault, senior, received
fatal injuries. and three Of Mr.. Daignault,
juniors, children are also badly hurt.
/ In st. Louis village fifteen buildings were
blown down and a great number OF people
injured. Phileas Roult, one of the victims,
was in his barn at the time, and though his
barn was carried away over forty feet and
collapsed with crash he escaped without
any serious injury. The number of the
wounded is estimated at over thirty. Twenty
houses were destroyed at ST. Placide and two
persons killed. Nothing but utter ruin sig
nalized the strip Of land which has been
brushed by the whirlwind.
At st. Ignace, George S. Lorimer was
killed by O tree falling upon him. At ST:
Hyacinthe, boy, name unknown; killed
while closing a window. Two lumbermen
drowned at Chaudiere, while crossing. the
river. Their canoe was struck by light
ming and their bodies were swept over the
falls. At Smiths Falls the wife of hotel
proprietor died from fright
At LOriginal the people were congregated
in the church, praying for protection from
the storm, when ball of lightning struck
the building and a panic ensued, during
which many were seriously injured. At
Valleyfeld five men were killed by light
ning-names unknown.
The damage is estimated at over million
dollars