The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-01-23
VOL. vi.
Three Persons Killed by Lightning
at Brush Creek Camp Ground.

Three Persons Killed by lightning
at Brush Creek Camp Ground.
The Sentinel
The Holston Methodist o. this week
"a paper, by the way, that is very
much improved in both mechanical
and intellectual characteristics con-
tains an historical contribution from
the venerable Rev. G. D. Smith, so
we'll known at one time to Knoxville
people. The paper of Mr.. Smith re-
fers principally to tragic occurrence
which, while besides being melan-
cholly incident in East Tennessee
Methodist history, was a mournful
event Of universal interest. Dr. Smith
was inspired to revive the incident by
the daily announcement OF so many
deaths by electricity. He recounts in
touching language the instantaneous
death of two young people and the
shocking oi third in the midst of
religious exercises at Brush Greek
Camp ground, the present site of
johnson City, All of our older citi-
zens will, no doubt, remember that
occurrence. 1t was in 1912. DR.. Smith
recites that SUNDAY night came
cloudy and gloomy, The air heavy
and somewhat oppressed. and Sigh:
drizzle of rain was falling. The clouds
like thick and murky fog seemed to
hug the earth. Lightning was fre-
quent and the occasional rumbling OF
thunder kept the large congregation
in awe" He then tells:
The camp of james II, Jones, OF
Jonesboro, stood little diagonally
from the pulpit and the altar. In the
door OF this camp three persons were
standing, They we're young Mr..
Gillespie, OF Greene county, then a
student of Washington college;
young Mr.. Miller, son Of a DR., Mil
Ter, OF Rutherford county, or Cleve-
land county, North Carolina, who was
also Il student of Washington college,
and Miss Mary Taylor, daughter Of
James p. Taylcr, a distinguished law
yer Of Garter county, Tenn, and sis
ter Of the late Dr. n. G. Taylor, the
father Of Governor Taylor, Of Tennes-
see. Gillespie was in the middle and
had his left arm thrown around
Millers waist, and Miller had his right
hand thrown upon Gillespie's shoul-
der Gillespie's right arm touched
Miss Tayor's elbow. Miss Taylor was
leaning her head to the right against
the door pos: AL were silent aud
looking at the exercises in the altar
Suddenly there was fash and loud
clapuf thunder The lightning struck
aud split the door post about two and
half feet above Miss Taypr's head,
The three fell back, faces up
Two were dead Young Gillespie
recovered. 1t is further mentioned
by DR.. Smith that "youug Nat G.
Taylor" (the iathrr of Bob and AID
whose sister was killed, was seated at
the door on a bench in the camp with
some companions, when one remarked
Boys it is not sale where there is so
much lightning to be leaning against
this wall" They instinctively leaned
forward, and "Nat's sister fell dead at
his feet"
DR.. Smiths melancholy rsminis
, cence will be appreciated hy all the
older persons Of East Tenn' sSec who
may read it. We confess we have been
led to reproduce the main incident,
by the fnct that We have distinct
recollection OF having read the account
nf it in Brownlow's Jnnesboro Wing
when we were u boy, very small bay
DR., Smiths account when we read it
was like the rea 'ization OF Il forgotten
dream.