The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
GUSSIE RYAN'S SAD DEATH.
6rRUCx NJ LIGHTNING AFTER BATH-
ING IN THE PASSAIC
-essus or stor. when She went Inte the
Water. but She Did Not Heed Her Grand
ssther's Advioe-Mer More Ttmtt Com
pnnion Stands by and Secs Her Rte.

water. but She Did Not Heed Her Grand
ssther's Aavioe-Hser Moro Timit Com
pnnion Stands by and Secs Her Die.
STIRLING. N. j.. July 30 Augusta Ryan.
pretty nineteen year-old girl. was struck by
lightning here yesterday and instantly killed.
She had been bathing in the Passalc River. and
when the storm broke at 4 o'clock she came
out OF the water. and went under small white
birch tree near the river TO dress.
Her friend. Annie Baldwin. was standing
under an umbrella 4 ear her when the bolt OF
lightning struck the tree md killed her. Miss
Ryan had not had time to put on any OF her
clothes: she only wore pair OF rubber boots
to protect her feet in going from tho water to
the place where her clothes were.
She never moved after the lightning struck
the tree The upper part OF hor body turned
dark blue color and the rubber boot on her
left foot was cut down tho side as II by knife.
This town is on high ground in Morris
county. Heavy thunder storms prevail here
during the warm weather. Half dozen barns
and houses around here have been struck by
lightning and burned to the ground within the
past fve years.
Yesterday the heat was intense. There was
no breeze to bring relief. and the atmosphere
seemed to be perfectly dead. Thermometers
registered from 100 to 1867 Of heat. and the
weather sharks predicted a heavy thunder
storm.
1t was nearly O'Clock before there was any
Sign of an approaching shower. and this was
the time that Miss Ryan selected to 60 bath
Gussie Ryan. as her friends called her. was
bfonss '" VIII t His e,ss s In one hsi xss
s:s sss::x ssv ,.f S:s
town. Hsr mot' sri Mrs; CAMERON. Is lIyins
Gnsse ' lett the Ionghi school "s she wen Ito To
work IN the spoolinc, department. of the stlrl-
: bright, attractive girl. and became very
popular.
sin Anns sTa o. ss h ey ss
tsrnoon to the bathing pool in the Passaic, At
sixty feet wide and shallow. The pool is a ia:
yorite bathing place for the young women. and
There we're indications that a storm was
coming when Gussis left tho house, and her
hns oG IS 1t for
Esr" rerlied Gnssie merrly; When the two
60 into the water. Gussie took of her clothes
under the white birch on THO hank and
the bank and watched her. The air .ndden My
thandsr. followed in few minutes BY large
drops Of rain. Annie put up her um brella and
snes sod G ss q 0 Xs ths the S f' It
the water Annie said to her: There is going
e he Iishtnins: Gnssis. and it's dangerous to
mshs tn as " struck as
boots that were waiting for her on the bank and
the tree underneath which her clothes
hs cod Saas
FAD eS as iFU Tie RS. G %hss
If M n
spprosched. bolt Of lightning shot down
Was an explosion and a strong smell Of sui
phur. Her umbrella was wrenched from her
ON my head" the said. although I was not
m WIEN hs F ssssS t p sa T@
Snsx that sSe was dead The white birch INV was
@seh A5 .sf ,SH e. nat &
eH Miss Baldwins H neck was lame yesterday
81 rood education. and sriei for the loss Of her
Sinse sa no and
ss,,ns Ssss Fl HELP Sa9ss
and several other men. hurried to tho Scene.
They sEos R Win then tvS Alan q Thsy
with her head reeting on her right arm.
The upper rorti ion Of her body was black, the
cut down the side and at the heel It looked IS
exploded into i. The rubber was cut
ever. showed no scar or burn. In
net there was 10 mark on her body except the
lightning struck the white birch tree about
half way to the top, For short distance It
split the tree. and then wound around 1t
several times.
against the tree at the time. Near her left
heel az she fell there r. was hole several
which had been lying on the ground beside
her were uninjured. The storm was furious
ona for the hour which it lasted.
Gussie's grandfathe or had heard OF her death.
and he reached the spot at about the time the
men got there. They picked mp the body and
placed it IN the BLANKETS They say the body
The body was removed to the farmhouse OF
her grandfather. and from there 1t will be
buried tomorrow. The lightning played
other tricks around here yesterday. but no one
else was injured.