Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-05
BOLT STRUCK CHURCH
Twenty Members of the Con- gregation Were Prostrated.
FLASH FOLLOWED BENEDIoT1oN.

 FLASH FOLLOWED BENEDIOTI0N. Lightning Wrecked the Methodist Church
 at ouaIxertown, N. J., Just as the Services
 Were CIOsing-The Pastor Among She
 Severely Injured. %.
 QUAKERTowN. N. J., Aug. 5.-The Methodist church here was struck by lightning, and 20 persons were prostrated. Those seriously hurt are James Hoff, jus tice of the peace; Minnie France Mrs. Kuhl Hoffman, Mrs John Wilson, Asa Bauman, sexton, and Mrs. Bowman, wife of Rev. l.. F. Bowman, pastor of the church.
 Nearly all of these were knocked sense less by the stroke. and-it is feared that deaths will result. Minnie France is in a critical condition.
 Dr. Bowman had just pronounced the benediction, at the morning service when the bolt struck the belfry, running around the edifico under the weatherboards and down under the flooring. The services having been all but concluded, many per- sons were in tl,e vestibule and aisles of the church.
 Besides those named 14 persons were maimed and Scarred. -.-... .-.
 The houses of the town were turned into emergency hospitals, and the victims are there being cared for
 Sexton Bauman had his coat torn from his back and into shreds, and one of his shoes was stripped as by knife. Minnie France was in her pew when the bolt tore through the floor. Both Shoes were torn from her feet the crown of her hat was wrenched away, and her watch chain was melted into liquid. James Hoff was pros trated in his pew, and most of his clothing was literally torn from his body.
 Horses broke from their tic posts out side the church, and many of them ran away. A veritable panic followed the stroke
 After the excitement had subsided it was found that the 500 pound bell in the cupola was hanging almost by thread while fully 100 persons were directly un- der it. The church edif1ce is almost a wreck, as the lightning penetrated it from all sides.
 Church Looked Like a Hospital.
 Word was at once telegraphed to Pitts town for medical aid, as the village doc tor, Dr. Snyder, had more to do than he could attend to. The Pittstown physicians, Drs. France and Warrington, started at once for Quakertown on a special engine run wildcat for their transportation by the Lehigh Valley railroad. They arrived at the church after quick run from Pitts town to find the place more like a hospital than a church.
 The burned and injured were laid out on the cushions, and the uninjured ones under the direction of Dr. Snyder were miniStering to the needs of those injured. Miss France was soon pronounced in ex- r al. most delirious. The others were still dazed from their experience. To add to the con- fusion the firemen were still at work fight ing the fire, which had started in the tow CT just after the bolt struck, and which persisted in breaking out every time it ap- peared to be quenched.
 The fire appeared to have gotten into the beams between the boards, where it could not be detected until it broke out. An examination of the tower showed it was badly damaged.
 Iron rods haa1les their temper, and their bolts had been fused to the threads. Some of the bars must have been at white heat at one time.
 As soon as the injured were made as comfortable as might be blankets were procured, and they were carried to their homes.
 Whole Town Rushed to the Scene.
 The utmost excitement prevailed after the bolt struck. The news that the church had been struck was known all over tho village in a few minutes, and despite the pouring rain almost the entire population rushed to the scene. When the first to ar rive reached the church, they found the unfortunate ones lying prone on the floor.
 Although those who were present agree in saying that MT. Bowman was standing close to the wall just before the bolt en. tered, he was lying on the opposite side of the vcstibule afterward. Miss France fell about where she had been standing.
 The entrance of the bolt was preceded by crash and then a tearing sound which lasted an instant. Then there came a white, dazzling light of such terrible bril-. liancy that those whose eyes were exposed to it have not yet recovered the use of their eyes and can see but dimly.
 No one knows whether any one else cried out, but those who were in the church proper and saw the light from a distance say there was an interval of bright lights followed by an explosion, and that fully minute elapsed before they heard the first groan Even those who were at distance felt the force of the shock.
 Lightning Killed One Out of Nine.
 hOLLlDAISBURG, Ha., Aug. 0.-Dur1nG the progress of an electric storm party of nine persons from Williamsport, Pa., who had been travelling in four horse wagon overland, took refuge under an oak tree three miles west of this city. The tree was struck by lightning, and the members of the party suffered the full shock and effect of the electric fluid.
 John Miller, aged 19, was killed out right His sister, Jean Miller, and Mrs. John Fay were severely burned about the face and body, and their recovery is doubt full The other men and women escaped with lesser injuries.
 The dead and wounded were removed to the Blair county almshouse, and med ical aid was summoned. The relatives of the party at Williamsport were notified.
 Steamer Struck by 8 Bolt.
 PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 5. - During a heavy thunderstorm the steamer Vigilant,