The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28
DEATH ENDED THE MESSAGE.
a Corporal Killed at Peekskin On. Y.
Camp While Writing q Love Letter.

a Corporal Killed at Peekski1l On. r.
Camp While Writing a Love Letter.
For the first time in the history Of the
New York Militia State Camp at Peekskin
the flag is flying at half mast for the death
Of q man in the camp. Corporal James J.
Mcdonnell OF Company A, Twenty-second
Regiment, New York City, was killed by q
stroke Of lightning, and this unprecedented
mark Of mourning Is in bis honor. He was
sitting in the tent Of the Y. NJ. c. A., which
faces the parade ground, shortly alter 2
o'clock, p. m. There had been a slight
shower a few minutes before, the sky had
cleared, and although there were clouds
about Dunderberg which indicated that
another shower might be expected, the sun
was then shining brightly over the encemp-
ment.
Corporal Med onnell was seated at a table
which Is stretched across the floor Of the
tent. writing q letter. Near him we're about
fifteen other men, some seated at the table
writing and others scattered about the for
ward part Of the tent. Mcdonnell was the
second man from the right side Of the tent.
The sides were up, and the nearest object
to him outside the tent was an apple tree
about six feet from his chair.
As the sun broke fully over the encamp-
ment and the last traces Of tho previous
shower disappeared, a loud clap Of thun-
der was heard. A tree about a hundred
yards from the tent was struck. The light
ming travelled toward the tent, striking
three trees before it settled on the apple
tree near which Corporal Med onnell sat.
Then 1t tore up the few feet OF ground be-
tween the tree and the floor Of the tent,
struck a board in the floor, tearing n
splintering it in a half dozen places as 1t
travelled across the twenty feet Of thetent's
floor. There 1t struck a colored man seat
ed In a chair with such force that he was
thrown several feet.
Every man at the table felt the shock to
some extent, and 1t Is believed that Cor
poral Med onnell was instantly killed. he
was never conscious after the sound OF the
thunder was heard. Even the men seated
farthest from. the table felt stunned and
dazed by the shock, and the first Of these
to recover himself wa Secretary Sheffield,
who Is in charge Of the Y. NJ. G. A. tent:
He rushed out on to the parade ground
and called for help. Some boys playing
ball ran for the ambulance, and before 1t
arrived several physicians were In the tent.
The men who had recovered began to work
over their comrades, and by time the am
bulance arrived there were only two or
three who had not recovered. But nine In
all were sent to the hospital, although only
three needed the services Of the hospitaPs
ambulance. All ofthe men were discharged
from the hospital.
The dead man was engaged to be mar
ried on Sunday next and be had just finished
a letter to his betrothed, who lives In New
York, when the bolt struck him. He had
signed his name, had added, 'Yours till
death" and was adding the words, Estate
Camp" He had written the first word and
the first three letters OF the second. 1t was
after finishing the letter I'm" that his pen
stopped.