Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-07-22
DEATH OF MISS TILLMAN.
Instantly Killed by Lightning
Near Brevard, N. c.
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY AS TOLD
BY A GENTLEMAN WHO Saw IT
THE REMAINS CARRIED THROUGH
CoLuMBIA TO TRENTON.
Columbia Register.

Columbia Register.
Miss Addie Tillman spent sew
eral years of her life in Columbia
and had host of friends in this
city. The brief announcement in
yesterdays Register that she had
been killel by lighting in the
mountains of North Carolina caus-
ed general sorrow in this city and
throughout the. State. There was
general anxiety to learn the par
ticulars of the sad affair, but they
were unobtainable until last night,
when the bodycf the unfortunate
young lady was brought to the
city on tie train from Asheville,
which arrived about $50 O'Clock.
there were nearly 200 people at the
Union depot last night, when the
train arrived, and many were the
expressions of heartfelt sorrow and
sympathy.
Full details of the tragedy were
obtained from Mr.. T. G. McNeely,
general agent of tie Henderson
Vile and Brevard Railroad, who
was with Miss Tillman when she
was killeG, and who accompanied
the remains to Columbia. Mr.. Nc
Neely said:
"Miss Addie Tillman was visit
ing her friend, Miss Nettie Ad-
dickes of Hendersonville. Wed
nesday morning party left Hen
dersonv''le to go to Brevard and
ascend Rich Mountain. In the
party were myself, Mr.. H. F. Ad-
dickes, Jr., and Miss Nettle Ad-
dickes of Hendersonville, N. c.;
Miss Addie Tillman, Miss Mae
0'Bryan of Allendale, S. c., who
was accompanying Miss Tillman
on her visit to Miss Addickes;
Miss Lizzie Bingham of Salisbury,
NC; Miss Annie Warren Of Han
dersonville, N. c.; Rev. Robt. A.
Lee of Yorkville, S. c., all Ep.sco-
pal minister, who was visiting Mr..
and Mrs. Addickes; and Mr.. M.
D. Cooper of Brevard, gentleman
about so years old, who was in
charge of the party as guide and
cicerone.
"The party left Hendersonville
at 9 80 a. m, Wednesday and ar
rived in Brovard at $50. Horses
were obtained and the party start
ed to ride to the summit of Rich
Mountain, about six miles distant,
leaving Bfevard at 1890 P. m. At
3 80 p. M, We were about three
fourths of mile from the sum-
NIT eff the mountain. a storm
was approa aching, and all of the
party except Miss Tillman, Mr.,
Lee aud myself pushed on aad
reached the summer home of Mr..
VIM. H. Trescott of Charleston be-
fore thu Storm broke. We three
stopped in order for Miss Tillman
and myself to exchange horses.
After exchanging, Miss Tillman
remounteG. 1t commenced rain
ing and she, Nj. Lee and myself
got under a clnmp of chestnut
'rees for shelter from the storm.
About forty feet from us was a tall
oak tree. Mr. Le': was nearest the
oak, standing and holding his
horse by the bride. Miss Tillman
was seated on her horse, holding
an umbrella over her head. | had
moved away about fifteen or twen-
ty feet to get on stump and
mount my horse. Suddenly a
bolt Of lightning struck the oak
and then came our way. Mr.. Lee
and his horse and Miss Tillman
and her horse were killed instant
ly, all falling to the ground. My
horse was knocked over, but not
killed. By'that time the bolt had
expended itself and | only felt a
slight shock to the haud which l
had Oh my horses bride.
81 Immediately ran to them, but
they were dead, having been killed
instantly. They were only slight
lv burned. There was no disfgura-
ton as a result of the stroke. !
obtained a wagon from Mr.. Nc
Creery, farmer vino lived near
ly, and conveyed the bodies TO Mr..
Trescott's house and thence to
Brevard. Mr.. Carroll and Miss
Peasants of Asheville, who were
also ascending the mountain,
reached Mr.. Trescott's house about
the same time as the first section
of our party. They were exceed
ingly kind in helping us care for
the corpses.
"We left Brevard at II 80 p. m.
Wedne sday and arrived in Hen
dersonville at 1 a. m. Thursday,
the surviving members Of the par
ty accompanying the bodies to
that point. Immediately tele-
graphed the families of Miss Till
man and Mr.. Lee. The bodies were
brought to South Carolina to-day.
Mr.. Lees remains were taken to
the home of his father, Mr.. J. f.
Lee, in Abbeville, for interment.
MIR. Lee was about 80 years old
and single. L. was impossible for
Mr.. Addickes to leave his family,
30 accompanied the remains of
Miss TiIlwan to Columbia and will
60 to Trenton to attend the
funeral"
Mr.. McNe"ly had miraculous
escape from death by the bolt
which killed his companions
Their suddep and terrible death