Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-23
DEATH BY LIGHTNING
a CHILD INSTANTLY KILLED IN HER
FATHERS FRONT YARD.
severni Other Persons Slightly Shocked,
Electric Wires Burned Out, and
Window-Glass Broken.

Severni Other Persons Slightly Shocked,
Electric Wires Burned Out, and
Window-Giass Broken.
This has indeed been a year OF rain
and storm.
The fall Of water during the first seven
months exceeded that of any year IN
half century, and the quantity OF thuh-
der and lightning with which We have
been visited since early spring has been
phenomenal.
July. usually a dry month, made re-
cord for wetness that has never been
equalled, and August, when the droughts
that cut short the crops of Virginia farm
crs usually occur, has brought forth more
than her ordinary quota Of water.
OF thunder-storms We have had
great many, and come terrific ones,
though none perhaps so severe as that OF
yesterday afternoon, which came up IN
q great hurry and was alarming III It's
consequences.
Tho damage TO property was not so
great. but what was far worse the ele-
ments sent death and sorrow to the
home of one of our fellow-citizens and
bis family circle was broken by the loss
of sweet little girl Of six, who was the
light and Joy OF n happy tireside.
THE STORM.
The morning broke slightly cloudy,
the atmosphere was close, and the heat
very oppressive. Early in the afternoon
light clouds began to form. which pro-
missed refreshing shower, but between
and o'clock these gave place to dark
and portentous ones, which foretold
what was very quickly fulfilled.
Just about the hour of 6 the sombre
mantle that hid the sky from view IN
folded, az it were, and rain began to fall
in torrents. The showGr-aDd 1t was a
very heavy one-came upon MS so unex-
peCtedly that the streets were compare
lively full of people without umbrellas
or any other protection from the storm.
A large number of mothers and nurses
were on the Capitol Square with infants,
and these, like perhaps a hundred or
more other persons, sought refuge under
the Capitol stairways and in the doors.
The same condition OF affairs existed on
the thoroughfares of the city.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
During the first shower there were
several loud, deaiening peals OF thunder
and with them severe flashes of light
ming that were almost binding 10 the
eyes. The first delugc was over IN about
a half-hour. and following II there was
second cloud, in which the thunder and
| lightning were more severe though the
rainfall was much more moderate.
The lightning struck at several places
in the city and an examination OF the
telephones this morning will doubtless
show a number of them to have been
damaged. So far as reported there was
no serious injury to property
The rain, thunder, and lightning were
over and the stars began to shine out
about 8 o'clock.
LITTLE CHILD KILLED.
During the storm Willie Eta Whit
man. the little six-year.old daughter of
| Mr.. w. L. Whitman, was struck by
lightning and death resulted instantly.
She was in her fathers yard at the
corner of Twenty-6fth and X streets
within few feet of the door when killed.
Her mother was in the porch at the
tine, and felt the shock very slightly.
MIR. Whitman was within few squares
of his house, and reached home in few
minutes to find his wife PROSTATE with
grief over the sad ending Of the life OF
their bright little daughter.
1t was a sad blow to the family. Mr..
Whitman has six children, and the little
girl was bis fourth child.
The funeral will take place from the
Third Christian church at o'clock this
afternoon, Rev. f. A. Cole officiating.
WIRES STRUCK.
In the sharp report Just following the
first shower the lightning struck the
electric-light wires extending into the
residence of Mr. Marcellus Hicks, Mt No.
3I7 east Franklin street. The fluid ran
along TO the converter just outside the
house. burning the wires ana making a
cracking sound with smoke, which
| frightened the residents, who had an
alarm turned in from Box ., Third
Street engine-house.
This brought out portion of the Fire
Department, whose services were not
needed. As the fluid kept playing on
the wires it still alarmed the family OF
Nj. Hicks, and a fireman went to the
roof and cut the wires at the converter,
which stopped all electrical pranks.
v-f,-DoSU-GrA ACC RpoVFN
The lightning struck the window-sill
at Mr. $. Proskauer's residence at No.
500 east Leigh street, and nineteen
panes of glass III the building were
| broken. Several persons present felt
the shock slightly, but were not ut all
seriously affected.
The impression prevailed last night
that tree or some building had been
struck not far from tho city.