Catoctin clarion., 1889-07-18
TWO BARNS STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
Entirely Consumed and Two
Men Instantly Killed.

Between TWO and three o'clock on Thurs
day afternoon storm passed over this place,
which, although accompanied by thunder
and lightning, was net apparently as severe
rs many we have experienced this season,
and our citizens were therefore greatly
time afterwards, that the barns on Mr.W.W.
Crapstcr's farm, about four miles southeast
OF town, near the Brucevlllc road, had been
struck by lightning and two men killed.
An eye witness reports that he saw flash
of sgzag lightning, which seemed to play
around, from one point to another and then
descend upon the buildings. In shed near
the barns, seven persons were engaged in
unloading wheat and packing it away. They
were Chas. Harner, the tenant on the farm,
and his three sons, Stephen, aged about ~,
Howard, aged about 9 years, another younger
boy and a daughter about II years OLD, and
two hired men, Samuel Wclty and Denton
Reifsnidcr, all of whom were knocked sense
less by the shock, except Wclty. Charles
Harner, the father. and Reifsnder being
killed outright. The building Immediately
caught fire, and but for the timely efforts of
Mr.. Wclty, all would haye pcrished in the
flames.
The position of the people in the barn was
as follows; Rcifsnider was on the wagon
pitching the shcavcs to Stephen Immediately
over head, Stephen pitched them into the
NOW, where his father took them and passed
them to the daughter, she in turn handing
them to Wclty who was packing. The
lightning, it is supposed, entered at the door,
striking Relfsnidcr first, then passed to the
boy over head, and so on through the entire
party, the supposltion being that the forks
acted as conductors.
Welty who was farthcst away evidently
received the slightest shock and was not
stunned Mr.. Welty's statement is in effect
that Immediately after the shock he ran to
the assistance of the others, and found
Harner in flames, but was unable to remove
him, the boy Stephen had fallen from the
nov on to the wagon, and Welty succeeded
in dragging him and Reifsnider from the
building, returning he got the other two
boys out. The girl got out herself, but was
in a dazed condition, and is unable to give an
account of how she escaped, and Mr.. .Harncr's
body remained in the flames.
The alarm spread like wild fire and scores
of neighhois flocked to the scene, Il messen-
ger was dispatched to town for doctor, to
which summons DR.. J. w. Eichclbcrger ,Jr.,
responded, and II number Of citizens started
at once for the place, whilst another mcsscn-
ger also brought doctor from Pipe Creek.
Reifsnider 1t was found had been killed
outright, while Stephen had the skin burned
on his right hand and arm, and across his
body to the left side. Howard, the second
boy had all arm broken, which was evidently
Gone in falling, and the other hoy was hurt
about the face, while Wclty and the girl
seemed to suffer no inconvenience. Mr..
Harncr's charred remains were gotten out of
the ruins about 7 o'clock, ut he WAS burned
beyond recognition. The two large barns
ana shed attached were entirely consumed,
together with their contents, consisting OF
about 300 bushels of wheat, between Is and
20 tons Of bay, and some farming implements.
Chronicle.