Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-06
AWFUL WORK OF LIGHTNING.
4 Church Congregation struck
DOwn-Twenty Persons Hurt.

QUAKERTOWN, y. j., August 5.--Just
after the Rev. l.. f. Bowman, pastor OF
the Methodist church, had pronounced
the benediction at yesterday mornings
service and had reached out his hands
to clasp that of a parishioner. thunder
bolt struck the pelfry OF the church, run
ming around the edifice under the wealth
er-boards and down under the flooring.
prostrating twenty worshippers.
The scene was a terrible one. The
worshippers were gathered around chat
ting In the body OF the church, or In the
vestibule, preparatory 10 leaving for
home, when the awful crash came. In
the pews, in the vestibule. in the door
ways, lay the stricken and helpless vic
Tins of the lightning's fury. Those se-
riously hurt are:
JAMES HOFF, Justice of the Peace.
MINNIE FRANCE, daughter Of Doctor
France.
MRS. KUHL HOFFMAN,.
MRS. JOHN WILSON.
ASA BAUMAN SEXTON.
MRS. BOWMAN, wife OF the pastor.
About fourteen others are MANNED and
SCARED for life. The homes OF the viii
lage were AT once turned into emergency
hospitals, where the victims are being
cared for.
Sexton Bauman had his coat complete
ly torn from his back and into shreds.
while one Of his shoes was cut into strips
as IL by a knife. Minnie France was in
her pew when the lightning came through
the floor. tearing both shoes from her
feet, melting her watch-chain, and tear
ing the crown from her nat. While not
mark Is apparent on her body. she Is
perhaps fatally hurt. James Hoff was
also Frustrated In his pew, and most OF
his clothing was literally torn from his
body. Mrs. Wilson had her hat torn to
pieces. and both shoes torn from her feet.
Horses broke away from their posts.
running away smashing carriages. and
doing other injuries. The church edifce
is almost wreck, as the lightning pene-
trated II from all sides 1t was found
after the excitement had subsidized that
the large 600-pound bell In the cupoia
was hanging almost by a thread. Had 1t
fallen the result would have been ap-
palling. as fully 100 people were directly
under IT,
Those seriously injured are James Hoff.
Minnie France. Mrs. Kuhl Hoffman, Mrs
John Wilson. Mrs. Samuel Johnson. Will
liam Large and his wife. Asa Bauman
(sexton). Mrs. 4. Hibler, Elias Dalrymple.
and James NJ. Pittenger The freaks
played by the lightning were such as
have never before been chronicled. The
coat OF Sexton Bauman, as an eye-wit-
ness to the. catastrophe said looked az
II IL had gone through a corn-sheler."
Bauman's shoes were a sight TO behold.
They were shredded like bits of leather.
while the shoe strings were picked apart
like so much cotton.
The lightning evidently struck the build
ing on the spire where only one piece Of
Iaf IN Of ha oil Ia
of the belfry. Swinging the large bell
from It's fastenings Following the edge
of the north side of the roof II took of
about thirty or forty feet of clapboard.
Two of those most seriously injured
Minnie France and James Hof-had Just
arisen In their pews 10 enter the aisle
when the lightning came up through the
floor, directly under their feet cutting
holes In the flooring like that made by
a shotgun at short range. This bolt tore
the shoes from Miss Frances feet and
destroyed her skirt. II r. remarkable that
In these cases there was no evidence OF
fire. The clothing was not even smoking,
but where the fluid came in contact with
flesh 1t more or less burned H. Many
people were running around. however.
with parts OF their wearing apparel afire
but in these cases none were seriously
injured. The crown OF Miss Frances hat
was completely torn off and the wire
forming the frame was melted, while the
lace was so slightly scorched, that II was
hardly perceptibie. In several instances
one leg of a mans pantaloons were torn
open on one side as completely as though
done by a tailor. Nails in the shoes OF
some who were injured were melted, and
in one particular the sole and upper sepa-
rated very neatly
midnight word WAS raoafvo1
all those injured had regained conscious
ness except Miss France. The physicians
have almost given up hope of her. Those
who have recovered have no knowledge
OF the affair. and asked: What does
this all mean2" Some Of the victims are
In agony. Many complain of their limbs
being numb. while their nerves suffer as
though with the pain OF infiammatory
rheumatism.
Quakertown Is seven miles north OF
Pennington. in Hunterdon county. Its
population is about go or 300, made I'D
OF each-growers principally. who have
retired from active farming. One can
drive for miles around the village and
have peach-groves on all sides.
The congregation is one OF the most
thrifty OF the rural parishes In Hunter
don county and its members took great
pride in their church. Not long since
the edihce was practically rebuilt at con-
siderable cost. and, although the building
is fully insured. yet the villagers 90
about with sorrowful hearts when they
see the fruits Of their labor 50 quickly
brought 10 ruin.