Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-08
THE STORM ON MANSFIELD.
Particulars of Edward Gomo's Tragic
Death sunday.

The Free Press in another column an
nounces the tragic death by lightning OF
Edward Como of Essex Junction ON
Mount Mansfield Sunday. A Burlington
man who was on the mountain Sunday
gives the Free Press the following addi-
tional particulars:
\ party, consisting OF Mr.. and Mrs
Como and Mr. and Mrs. William Billings
of Underhil Centre had climbed the
mountain from the Underhill side and
after remaining upon the top for some
| time. were seen by the guests at tho hotel
starting along the ridge of the mountain
toward the Chin. and were upon their
| return to that point on the mountain
where the trail down the west side begins
when overtaken by the storm.
| The storm struck with terrific violence
the roar of the thunder and the Hash of
lightning were frightful. and the rain
dashed upon the rocks In sheets. Mir,
Como was struck by bolt of lightning
on the back of the neck and instantly
killed. The same bolt Frustrated and
rendered unconscious Mrs. Como and MIR.
1 and Mrs. Billings. the two latter being
quite severely burned. The shock of the
same bolt was felt at the hotel.
Mr. Billings recovered consciousness
first. The party were all lying bruised
and dazed upon the rocks, and Mr.. BIZ
| lings was just able to wave his hand.
Above tho clouds nearly half a mile away
this hand, immensely enlarged by the at
mosphere. was seen waving by those at
the hotel. The proprietor and guests
rushed to their assistance and brought all
to the hotel. Mr.. Como was dead.
| The others needed assistance and the pro-
pretor Of the hotel being unable to get
! telephone communication with stowe due
| to DANA sc done by the storm. despatched
a team to that point for a doctor and un-
dertaker. The accident occurred at about
! m nj n I
before medical assistance arrived in tho
person OF Or. Barrows of Stowe. In the
meantime Mrs. Churchill. wife OF the pro-
pretor. did all in her power to help the
patients.
MIR. and Mrs. Charlr. Mather Of Mont
pelier, we'll known in Burlington. were
also out in the storm both having started
for the Chin. but Mrs. Mather feeling un.
able to make the ascent. turned back and
arrived at the hotel with nothing worse
than a severe drenchng.
! Mr.. Mather proceeded onward and was
near the base OF the chin when no real.
ICED that he must he caught in the storm,
and Immediately scrambled down the cas-,
side of the mountain and sought shelter
beneath an over hanging boulder and sec.
ing Mr.. Billings and party descending the
Mountain advised them to take shelter
with him but Notwithstanding HE warn
ings, they continued on their course
downward until the force of the storm
made 1t imperative fur them to seek shell
ter behind tho rock where they wer,
found insensihlc. After tho storm sub
sided the guests went out with fed glass
CO to look for those ovcttaker by the
storm and thus discovered the waving
hand of MIR. Billings
The remains OF Mr.. Como were taker
to his home in Essex Monday morning
by way OF Stowe and Waterbury. accom-
panied by the three surviving member
of the party. who had barely recovered
from the shock enough to be taken home
and bearing upon theiY bodies visible re
mindors OF their journey.
Among the Burlingto niahs on the noun
tain Sunday were J. n. Henderson. Hen
'ry Ballard, Mr.. and Mrs. F. f. Knott
Mr. and Mrs. C. r. Miner. Mrs. G. NJ
Smith. Edward Ashley. Russell Z Tiliel
and g. l.. Closson.