River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-09-26
Killed by Lightning,


Killed by Lightning.
On Saturday evening last at about
half past six O'Clock while Jay Nj.
Elliott, aged p years, eldest son of
John Elliott, residing four miles
west of this city, was proceeding home
bolt of lightning fell upon him and
the team he was driving killing both
the driver and team. AS the night
was very dark and no one was very
close TO him at the time what actually
occurred is matter OF conjecture,
but it would seem that he was driving
standing up and that death must
have been almost If not quite instan-
taneous. Jay aud his brother Henry
had come to the city in the afternoon
each having a load of potatoes for the
starch factory. For some reason Jay
did not leave quite as soon as his
brother who arrived home safely
about half an hour before the fatal
stroke, as nearly as is known. Trules
Bennett, a neighbor, who was behind
Jay, finding his team stopped in the
darkness by some obstacle, upon
examining the cause found the wagon
driven by Jay in the road, both horses
dead and the unfortunate man
breathing his last. He fastened to
the house and gave the alarm, but
nothing could be done for the young
man so lately full of life and yigor.
The funeral was attended on Mon
day by a large concourse of friends
who came TO sympathize with the
bereayed parents in the loss OF their
eldest son. Owing TO the illness of
Mr.. Mcintosh he was unable to be
present and Rev. Mr.. Mckenzie otiici-
ated at the ceremonies.
A Washington correspondent, in
comparing the personal appearance of
the members of the last house of rep
resentatives with the one that will as
semble this winter, says: In the last
house Nils p. Haugen, of Wisconsin,
was probably the finest looking man
OF the Republican side, but he is not
amarker to Mr.. Heatwole. Although
tall, erect and broadshouldered, he
lacks the easy grace which the North
field editor possesses. He is more of
the Hercules than the Apollo type.
On the Republican side, during the
next session, Mr.. Heatwole will have
no rival, so far as physique is con-
cerned. Mr.. BOutelle, of Maine,
while an athletic looking man, carries
around with him the indeiible mark Of
the sailor, due to his many years SER
vice as sea captain, and, while he
might be called fine looking, could
hardly be called handsome.
Fire broke out among the large
barns of G.. F. Burnett on Saturday
evening last and destroyed six barns
with their contents involving heavy
loss. The cause of the fire is supposed
to be lightning. For some uneX-
planned reasoned the alarm was not
given in the city until after nine
o'clock though the fire was seen at a
much earlier hour. The storm was
raging and every one in doors which
may account for the slownesS in giving
the alarm. As soon as the bell struck
however the firemen rushed for the
engine house and got out the engine
as soon as possible and having attach
ed a team proceeded to the farm, but
the apparatus arrived too late TO do
any good and all were compelled to
simply wait until the confiagration
had expended Ls-lt.
The loss { Mr.. Burnett must be
very hes Wy as the barns were all filled
with hay and grain and some farming
implements, very little of which was
saved. The loss is partially covered
by insurance i'm the local insurance
company and in the Hartford of
Hartford, Conn.