New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-07
SEVERELY HURT.

Lightning caused the death of two pleasure
seekers. fatally injured another and seriously in.
jured fourth in East New-York last evening.
Those who killed outright were Fritz Zieglig.
thirty-seven years old. who lived at No. 30 New
.Jersey-ave and Lizzie Topel, the iive-year-od
daughter of Ernest Topel, who lives at Blake-ave.
and Lnwood-st. The fatally injured pleasure-seek0r
is John Meyer, the fourteen-y year-old son of Peter
Meyer of Sutter and LinwOod sts Ernest Tope,
f0rty-seven years old, injured in his legs, but
will recover.
Mr. TopeI has boat at place called Old Mill.
on Spring Creek, an inlet of Jamaica Bay, which
is favorite resort of East New-Yorkers and he
was in the habit Of taking his family and friends
out there every Sunday.
Yesterday he went out as usual, taking with
him his daughter Lizzie, Mr.. Zieglig, Peter Meyer
and his son, John Meyer. After enjoying lays
sport, the party was returning home when dark
clouds spread the sky, and gave every in.
dication Of a heavy shower At that time. 80
p. m., the party was walking rapidly along
Hegeman-ave.
just then it began to rain and Mr. Topel, TAX
ing his daughter Lizzie on his shoulder, ran with
the rest of the party 10 seek place of shelter.
When they arrived at Benjamn-st., at 8 :45 p. m.
bolt of lightning. followed by an instantaneous
peal of thunder, struck the party. Lizzie Topel
was instantly killed while still her fathers
shoulders. Her body was badly lacerated all over,
and about eight inches of flesh directly over her
heart was torn Off. Fritz Iieglig, who was walk
ing beside Mr.. Topel, received the same bolt in
his body, and although there were no signs Of in
jury on his body, he was instantly killed. The
entire party was thrown to the ground by the
force of the shock
Mr. Topel himself got part of the shock in his
legs and they were paralyzed by it, but he Will
D, ,obahly recover Peter Meyer dninjured.
out his son John was seriously hurt, and was
taken to ST. Mary's Hospital, where it Is said his
injuries may be fatal
When il was seen that the shower was coming.
Charles, William and Albert 1opcl, children OF
Ernest Topel, ran down the road to meet their
father with an umbrella They We're within q
few feet of their parent when the fatal flash
came and although these children escaped with
out serious injury, they were thrown to the
ground also.
People in the neighborhood said that they never
heard or knew of such terrific thunder and
| lightning. The atmosphere had been exceedingly
close and oppressive all the afternoon, and when
the storm passed over the most refreshing change
was noticed. The storm came from the west but
passed entirely around the city, 20 that not drop
OF rain fell near the City Hall. but when it
reached the high ground near Ridsewood it broke
with all its force
Ernest Topel worked in the factory Of Robert
Gar. at Washington and Water SITS. After the
bolt fell he was taken TO mis- home, and was rest-
ing quietly in a rocking chair when seen ny
Tribune reporter. He said
"Ihe flash came so unexpectedly that bad No
idea what occurred until some time after when,
on recovering consciousness, | saw my little
daughter. with her beautiful golden curs, lying
dead on the ground: almost wished the bolt
had NOT srarod nv life. It's n terrible thing;
terrible
Lizzie Topes body was taken home, while that
Of tritz IIeglig was taken 10 the undertaking
shop of Louis Bader. No. 497 Liberty-aye. He
wa, "A tailor on Il small scale having his shop
under his home at No. $50 New.Jersey-ave.
The principal injuries sustained ny ,Iohn Meyet
is feared that the lightning affected some of the
vital organs