The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-05
communication.
ST. AUGUSTINE. Pa, August 3, 1892


highly esteemed merchant of Dysart, was
struck by lightning shortly before six
o'clock on Friday evening July 29Ih. with
in one half mile of his home. Mr.. Whar-
ton had gone TO the mines To deliver
goods, and while returning home
ward his horse became frightened at the
thunder and lightning. Mr.. Wharton got
out of the wagon and was leading the
horse by the rein. While passing under
tree the lightning struck il, the current
running out on one of the limbs that eX-
tended over the road and right over the
horse, striking the animal in the mouth,
killing him instantly. The current passed
on To Mr.. WhartOn'S arm, crossed his back
and down his limbs, burning them and par
aliZing the members, except the left arm
The shoe on his right foot was torn from
the top to the toe aud was found five feet
away. His other shoe was torn slightly
near the sole. His watch was found some
distance away still running, but the chain
was broken. When he became conscious
| he could not conceive what had happened.
| On raising his head he observed his vaua-
| bic horse lying dead close beside him, and
| he then realized that lightning had done
| its fatal work. He laid there alone for al
most an hour in the greatest misery. Mr..
| WiSel, who lives quarter of mile away,
| hearing pitiful means which he supposed
| came from some one in great agony. start
| ed out with his wife TO lind where the
| moanS came from. 1t was then about half
| past six o'clock. They found him lying in
| the road with his head Slanting down the
! hill. the water running around his body
| and tn rain pouring down upon him. He
| asked to bee raised up and remarked that he
| would have TO die be fore assistance came.
| Mr. WiSel raised him tenderly IN his arms
| and sent his wife down TO the store for
| help. Quite a number of men went up
| and carried him To his home and medical
aid hastily summoned. Drs. Byron, of
| Frugality, and Somerville, of Chest
| Springs, were there very shortly after
ward and wrapped his badly burned body
| in cotton and did all that could be done for
the poor man but it was of no avail, and al
! Saturday at 2:45 A. NJ, death claimed him.
| He was conscious to the last, and his low
| ing wife and brother were present at his
| bedside when he expired. Rev Father
| RoSenSteel, of AShville, gave him all the
| last rites of the Catholic church.
| Mr.. Wharton was born in Clearlield
| township on March 29th, 1877, on the farm
now owned by his brother. Jas. \. Whar-
| ton, being in his 45th year at the time of
! his death. He was son of Joseph and
! Catharine Wharton. His father was
| killed by kick of Il horse when Charles was
| a boy six years of age. He was married 10
! Miss Alice, only child of James +. and
| Mrs - Littlelield. of Portland. Maine
at one time residents of Chest Springs.
| He was the father Of nine children. seven
| ,,fN nrkrfNF i'm he il a hnN
fifteen years of age, and the youngest i
three and one half years old. The dcceaS
Is survived by his mother. Mrs. Thomas
Wilt. of Clearfield township: his brother,
James \. Wharton. of Cieariield township;
and three sisters, Mary, the wife of SilaS
| McGough. of Altoona, Pa; Ella e., the
wife Of Albert Ivory, Of Greensburg, Pa :
| Alice. wife of James McGough, of Clear
| field township; also. three half-SiSterS,
Jennie c. wife of John y. Woodburn, of
Homestead, Pa, formerly of Altoona, and
| Misses ANNE V. and Louie y. Wilt, who
remain AT home.
His funeral took place at Chest Springs
on Monday morning after Requium High
! Mass celebrated by Rev. Father RoSen-
| steel, of Ashville, assisted by Rev. NJ. Ry-
an. OF Gallitzin and Rev J. Ludden, of ST.
Augustine. His remains We're laid TO rest
in the beautiful cemetery adjoining the
| church.
The death of Mr.. Wharton has cast a
gloom of sorrow upon the community in
which he resided, and the sympathy of his
host of friends old and young has been eN-
tended to his family and near relatives in
in their sad bereavement. To know him
was TO love him. and the high esteem in
which he was held by all who knew him
is easily seen by the large concOurSe OF
neighbors and friends who attended his
funeral 1t was one of the largest ever
held in this Eartof the country, the church
being filled To its utmost capacity. while
! others had 10 remain on the outside.
Being loved and endeared by all those who
had the pleasure of meeting him and DONG
business with him, he will be greatly miss
ed, but especially by the people of Dysart
where his. his industry and integrity die
much to advance the interests Of thai
| place. Being raised devoted Catholic
| a dutiful son, a model husband and father
he never forgot the teachings OF his faith
and never hestitated to extend chartita
ble hand and if necessary TO go down il
| his pocket TO assist his neighbor in time o
distress.
He was an ardent worker in assist
ing Father Ryan in building the beautiful
Catholic church at Chest Springs. He wa
the first to be inferred in the new cemetery
in that place. And as it was the will o
God To remove him from those who wer
near and dear 70 him, may his soul rest il
peace. NJ