Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-13
LIGHTNING STROKE.
HINRY WEST INSTANTLY KILLED DURING
TEE STORM OF TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
While Hunting Berries on The Hillside BE is
0vsriaksn By the Storm. and Seeking ShsliG
Beneath q frss Nests His Death.

Henry West, driver employed at the
Riverside Iron Company's coal bank,
was struck by lightning and instantly
killed, on a hill just below the city,
during the heavy storm Of Tuesday aft
ernoon.
After the storm had subsidized on Tues
day afternoon, Paul Riegel and boy
named Schau, who had been on the hill
near Martins Point, just below the city,
started for home. On the way the lads
saw a man lying under tree at the
point, and believing him to be drunken
tramp or negro, they became fright
ened, and instead OF making an
investigation, ran from the spot.
They said nothing about the
occurrence until yesterday, when
they heard that West had gone on the
hill Tuesday evening and had not re-
turned. Vests brother was told of the
affair, and he at once started up the hill
to the spot indicated by the boys. West
had returned from work about noon,
and after eating dinner started on the
hill for elderberries.
Vests brother proceeded to the
point, and was shocked to see his broth
er lying on the ground dead. Beside
him was a pool Of blood, while few
feet away was the bucket Of berries.
The bark of the tree was split open
almost it's entire length, and Vests hat
was lying on the ground pierced with
holes, these circumstances plain
ly indicating the manner OF his death.
From the surroundings, and the ma
ture of the unfortunate mans injuries,
it was evident that he had sought the
shelter of the tree when the storm came
up, and was standing with his back
against the trunk when the shock came.
The lightning struck the tree, and run
ming down the side, glanced off upon
West. His face was bruised and burned,
and his left side and right leg scorched
in places, showing the course taken by
the electric stroke. When found he
was few feet from the tree, where he
had probably rolled after being pros
trated by the shock. Death must have
resulted almost instantane0uslY.
His face and body had turned black,
which accounts for the little boys
thinking he was negro.
West started to carry his brother
down the hill, but other friends who
appeared on the scene by this time,
took charge of the remains and brought
them to the foot of the hill. Coroner
Phillips was notified by telephone and
arrived in a short time. After making
an investigation and hearing the evil
dence of several witnesses, he brought
in a verdict in accordance with the
above facts. The remains were taken
to Altmyer & Myers undertaking es,
tablishment, in the Eighth ward, and
prepared for burial. The funeral will
take place from the residence OF the
deceased, at the corner Of Thirty-sev-
enth and Wood streets, this afternoon
at three o'clock. Fort Henry Lodge,
No. >, Shield OF Honor, of which West
was q member, will attend the funeral
in body.
Deceased was about thirty years OF age
and was well known In the Eighth ward,
where he has lived the greater part OF
his life. He was entry driver at the
Riverside coal bank, which position he
has filled for some time. He was twice
married, but had no children. His pres
ent wife has two children by her first
husband, who was killed In railroad
wreck on the C. & P. at Rush Run, above
this city, several years ago. The news
of the unfortunate accident spread like
wildfre over the South Side and a
crowd of several hundred curious peo-
pie collected in short time at the foot
OF the hill where West was killed.
"Weak and weary" describes the