New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-13
DEATH ENDED THE MESSAGE
A MAN KILLED AT THE STATE CAMP
> WHILE WRITING A LOVE LETTER.

CORPORAL MDoNALD HAD Just WRITTEN
"Y6URs TILL. DEATH" VIXEN LIGHTNING
STRUCK HIM-HE WAS TO HAVE BEEN
MARRIED on SATURDAY.
Peekskill. Y. July ~ lSpeciaD.--The State
I Camp OF instruction the scene of tragedy
to-day. in consequence Of which there is gloom
, over the reservation. Corporal James J. Nc
Donald, Of Company A. 22d Regiment bright
young man twenty-five years old. and clerk hI
the employ OF the West Shore Railroad. In
stanty killed by lightning in the Young Mems
Christian Associations tent. where he and about
twenty other guardsmen had gone to write let
ters. The majority OF those who were in the tent
were either stunned or otherwise injured by the
shock.
For years the Young Mems Christian Associa
tion has maintained a tent at the Camp Of In
struction. and II has gained In popularity fror.
year to year During the present tour of camp
duty there has never been q day when its
writing tables were not occupied and its books
and periodicals handled by the citizen soldiers
Yesterday the heat and sultry air kept many OF
the men in their seats. but still the big Y. NJ.
C. y. tent had It's visitors who watched from
there the coming storm. 1t about o'clock
when the sun and the clouds were having a
struggle for supremacy. Short. sharp and vivid
flashes Of lightning were followed by low and
mufiled thunder. and over the Dunderberg the
black clouds hung low, but the sun did not give
up the fight. little rain fell. and then flood
Of sunshine bathed the camp.
Then. without warning, when the storm seemed
to have been conquered. with scarcely a cloud
in sight. came flash and crash which seemed
TO rend the earth. and when its echo had died
away minute later. man lay dead in the
bad baan
severely shocked by the bolt.
There are several long tables in the tent at
which the men sit and write. and Corpal Nc
Donald and ten others sat at the one nearest
the entrance when the bolt struck the tent.
They were all writing. but 1t Is sa fe to say that
none Of his comrades wrote in the same vein
as the unfortunate corporal He had arranged
to celebrate the close OF the tour of camp duty
on Saturday by getting married. and when the
bolt shot into the tent from the north end. leav-
ing It's mark on the floor and the furniture he
was writing to his betrothed The letter was
complete. and it's last words We're: Yours until
death" The date was 20 follow but when the
expectant bridegroom had written state
CAM the fash came and the pen stopped
The tour Of duty was over-taps had been
sounded-the lighte out
F. w. Sheffield. secretary in charge Of the tent,
was the first of those who were stunned to re-
cover. and an alarm was at once sent to the hos
ptal. The hospital corps responded promptly.
| and Major Beach, Lieutenant Colonel Jarvis.
| Captains Stafford and Bell and Lieutenant
| Bates Of the medical department. did all that
science could suggest to revive the stricken
guardsman. whose body bore only a slight mark
! ON the forehead and cheek. The list Of the in
! jured includas:-.--s
| pPINGIE Private H. OF Company e. The bolt hit him
on the right leg above the knee. The flesh at the
ankle bisered and the shoe torn OH ms rignt
sSi:rns SGt ti rom lss shoch II * YET without 'e'S % "
SYLVESTER Private A.. OF Company I. A hole was
! leg bllstered
scHAEFFER. Private A. p. No visible marks but snf-
ferng from shock.
CRAWFORD Private J. W. Of Company a. was stunned
and dazei. He was seated beside Corpora Corr Mcdonald
Killed
LUTz Private j. +. Of Company c., Was burned along
shock and nervous prosraiion.
DUNCAN Private J; L.. i4th separate Company Was Was
is discolored and snged
wAGHoR rryas iSh sspa5as Company His right
hsh SIDE and RSSn cr burned burn T6s shoe o the
right foot torn of.
burned was thrown ,hGoggh lo the eide sS Of the
STEAMER. BENJAMIN. colored head walter in the
restaurant His left leg vas burned.
OWEN. j.. colored. waiter. General shock.
SHEFFIELD. Mr.. Of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation. General shock.
The men were ali attended to at the hospital
and everything done to relieve their sufferings.
Some Of those whose injuries appeared to be the
greatest said they felt pain. but simply numb
ness IN the limbs
! At the inquest which took place In the hospi-
tai tent this evening Coroner Charles s. Apgar
presided and was assist ID by Dr. f. DEM Lyon.
| Among other witnesses was Corporal Schuess-
Ter. the terminate Of the dead guardsman. He
appeared in full uniform and looked every inch
! a soldier but there was q tremor in his voice
and moisture about his eyes when he spoke
OF his friend He was to have been Mcdonald s
best man Saturday