Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-08-24
TERRIBLE STORM.
Hundreds of Houses De-
strOyed in Canada.
Lightning Bolts Strike in Nu-
merous Places.
Capt. SauVe ard All His Family
KiIIed-Church Struck While the
People Were Praying.

A dispatch from Montreal, Que, Aug 18,
says: A thunder storm that passed over
eastern Ontario and the whole of Quebec
early this morning was the most terrific ever
known here Hundreds of houses and barns
have been burned or blown down. Crops
are in many places entirely destroyed.
Horses and cattle by the hundred have been
killed, and, worst Of all, many people are
lost.
At small village called St. Louis de Con-
zague, Capt. Louis Sauve, his wife, son and
daughter were sitting in the kitchen when
several bolts of lightning struck the house at
the same time. The building seemed to col
lapse and then caught fire. The flood of rain
extinguished the flames, and those villagers
who were not panic-stricken dragged the
family from under the debris, but it was
found that, while none had even been cut by
the falling house, all of the family had been
struck by the lightning. Father, wife and
son were killed instantly. The daughter
cannot live.
A laborer, name unknown, on the Sauve
farm, was killed by bolt that struck the
At S.. Ignace George S. Lorlmer was killed
by a tree, which had been struck by lightning,
falling upon him. At ST. Hyacinthe the son
of the proprietor of small hotel was killed
while closing the windows in his room. A
report comes IRON Chaudiere that two lum-
bernen were swept over the falls while they
were crossing the river. Lightning struck
their canoe. The hotel at Smiths Falls was
set on fire and it is reported that the wife of
the proprietor died from fright.
From all over Quebec come reports OF
houses being set on fire and whole families
left destitute, and at a small place called
Original the parish church was struck by
lightning. The church was full Of people at
the time-1O p. m.-praying for protection
from the storm. A panic ensued and many
people were seriously injured by being tram
pied upon.
In Montreal the electric lights went out,
and in the big hotels there were small panics
among the guests. The Balmoral hotel was
struck by lightning, and corner of the roof
shattered, but the fire was extinguished.
The postoflice dome was struck, and the ma
chinery of the four big clocks badly disar-
ranged, The Electric Lighting company's
station was set on fire and badly damaged
Trees were torn up, telegraphf poles 6i9wdd Sad
electric lighting wires entirely burned out
by the lightning. 1t is estimated that the
damage done by the storm in this province
alone will reach over 81 800, 900.
Twenty houses We're destroyed and four
persons killed at ST. Placide.
At ST. Zotique, on the north side of the
St. Sawrence river, extensive damage Is re-
ported The three children Of Fabien
Rouleau, who were sleeping in the upper
part of the house. were swept away into a
field, but were not injured. Two other
children received injuries in the head and
will die
The widow Of Joachim Bissonelle of ST.
Zotique was killed under the ruins of the
house, which was struck by lightning. Many
persons sustained severe injuries, and one,
Jane Montpetit of st. Thomas had his arm
broken. In the same township seven houses
are reported to have been completely dsmol-
ished and the occupants left without any
shelter.
The public highway Is strewn with the
ruins of demolished buildings No less than
% farmers in the immediate vicinity of st.
Zotique had their houses and barns des-
| troyed.