The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-20
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
MAN. WIRE AND THREE CHILDREN.
An Awful Calamity Near the Limits Of tho
City-AlI of the Bodies Rescued by
the Efforts of the firemen.

While lightning flashed and while the
nil last evening was filed with the detona-
tons Of heaven sDale Emmett, his wife and
their three young children met horrible
fate. They were struck by lightning at
thor home at the extreme end OF Nicholson
street. and when willing hands attempted
10 aid them the flesh peaied from their bo-
dies and their faces bore the unmstsksble
imprint of death.
Sad, indeed. was The occurrence. No
event during the year viii evoke such pub
lie sympathy. The family. happy one.
living with the necessAues and comfort OF
life. resided on Nicholson street. many hun
dred yards beyond the corporate line Tue
FAINT flicker Of an electric light in
the FAR southeast told where the
city ended ita boundaries aud in
RtwO-story frame structure the family slept
IN peace A tree famed the breezes OK
summer Just lott Of the house and the faint
light Of lamp told late pedestrians that
there were occupants. The ram tell IN
torrents. and suddenly there was great
CLEAN of lightning. a tremendous crash Of
thunder aud all was still.
Andrew l.. SchOals and family reside Just
diag0nsliy across the street. When /
called there at midnight Mr.. Schoals, his
wife and children were in the lower room
and ! was regarded with suspicion. DR..
Shoals said " here was an awful clap
Of thunder. which had been preced-
ed 10y vivid flash OF lightning.
The rain was falling in torrents
and the outlook was anything but peaceful.
Nv wife WAS restless because the baby kept
crying. and FIVE minutes after the flash
went 10 the door and looked out. The baby
was giving as great deal Of trouble and /
only glanced out. as my wife said that she
feared that one Of the trees about the place
bad been struck.
THE FIRF.
could see nothing except fog, but a
moment later FIRE broke out from the top Of
the house / Immediately rushed out and
ripped the front door open with the
aid of a coOred man who came up about
the same time. We could not get up stars
and we tore down the lath fence that was
surrounding the property 40 as 70 gain an
entrance IN the second story. Just as we
raised the fence to the second story the
hose carriage of the Denny-street engine
house came up and one Of the men or that
party volunteered TO 60 up the imprOyIsed
ladder.
A VOLUNTEER.
William J. Dwyer was the one who volun-
teered, and IN conversation with him last
10 enter the burning house. and on the lad
der of latbs ] managed 20 reach a window in
the second story. found Mr.. Emmett in
bed by himself His wife lay in another bed
with a baby. one of the children was
in crib. and the other was
lying on the floor. presumably on pallet.
] brought Mr. Emmett down the ladder and
then went back for his wife. She proved
90 oe a heavy burden and had to call AS
distance. 1t was a CHASTITY sight and one
that would make any ones blood run cold
T. H. Davis. of the Denny street Engine
Company also did splendid service IN re-
moving the bodies of the children. and his
hands were most painfully burned.
While the work Of removing the bodies
was going on the house was in flames, and
the hose company were throwing full
head of water on the burning structure
while two or three hundred people stood by
70 render any assistance.
The bodies were taken from the house
under great difficulties and laid on the wet
earth 70 the left OF the house. Only rem
nants Of their night clothes remained and
their features were horribly blackened
by smoke and FIRE. Uncanuy and awful
was the sight. as the five bodies lay upon the
grass. with the Pickering flames or the burn
ing building throwing light upon the
scene.
THE BODIES.
One Of the justices of the peace Of Hen
Tico county. Mr. Barney Frischkoru, was
notified of the deplorable occurrence and
he gave permission that the bodies be re-
moved to some safe place. MIR. Emmett
was a member of Patrick Henry Council.
Jr. O. L. A. NJ. and of ManteO Tribe Of Red
Men, ard officials from the two organizations
took charge of the remains. They were
carried to BilluD's undertaking establish
ment on Main. near Fifteenth street. and
there at 9 o'clock this morning, Squire
Frischkoru will hold an inquest.
The Squire was kind and consderate
and rendered all the aid possible. and de-
cided that 20 hold an inquest would best
satisfy all concerned
Captain Rogers. of the Denny street Fire
Company, did most valuable work in the
handling of the remains. and helped 10
convey from the burning building the chill
dren.
THE TAMILX.
Mr.. Emmetts age is placed by those who
knew him 10 be about thirty years. The
Oldest child was about SIX years old. the
next three years old and the baby about
seven months old. Mr. Emmett was a
carpenter. and thought we'll of by all
who knew him. He was an honest man. OF
regular habits and was a good husband and
father and was much thought of by the
Red Men and the Junior Mechanics. He
worked for Mr. II. A. Myers most OF his time.
The funeral will take place at 5
o'clock this evening at the cemetery.
Manteo Lodge will meet at O'Clock at their
lodge-rOom, No. 5l7 Orleans street. and the
mechanics will assemble at o'clock at their
hall No. $40 Louisiana street.