The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-13
OF
LIGHTNINGI !
A House at Yatesville and One a
FllangOwan Struck.
NARROW ESCAPES FROM DEATH
A Boys Hair singed-A Girl Suffers Burns
and Bruises-one Young Woman Was
Thrown Under a Table and
Rendered Unconscious.

One of the most remarkable cases of escape
from death by lightning in the history of
this part of the state occurred at Yatesville
last evening during the thunder storm and
the remarkable adjunct of fall Of hail.
The scene was at the home of Henry
Busick, of Yatesville, fire boss employed at
the KnickerbOcker colliery. At least two
members of the family had an almost miracul-
Gus escape from death.
While the storm was at Its height Mr..
Busick, his wife aud two children, Carrie,
aged 13 years. and Raymond. aged years,
were standing near the open kitchen door,
watching the fall of hail. The building is
one of the two-story frame structures with a
kitchen extension erected near the electric
railway trestle after several houses in the
patch had been pulled down by Knicker-
booker colliery workings caving in.
As the family stood at the place stated
bolt of lightning struck the chimney of the
main house. glided along the rear roof
ripped of all the weather boards, then took
a reverse course, entering the top of the rear
window of the second story, ripped about
eight feet of plastering from the ceiling and
large patches from the wall, and then went
down into the rear room of the main build
ing on the first floor. Here the bolt ripped
up carpets scattered furniture about, and
then shot out to the kitchen and made its
exit close to the iamb of the door at which
the family was standing. After the bolt left
the house it buried itself at the base of pole
fifty feet distant
AS the bolt passed out at the kitchen door
Busick, his wife and children received a
shock that knocked all of them sprawling
upon the floor amid the scattered furniture
and falling splinters of wood from the un-
plastered walls of the kitchen. The house
was badly damaged from roof to kitchen.
As soon as Mr.. and Mrs. Busick recovered
from the shock they turned their attention to
the two children, who were still in a half
dazed condition upon the floor. 1t was found
that the hair was thoroughly singed from
the boys head his face was slightly scorched
and he suffered some shock. which caused a
temporary loss of power in the right arm.
The daughter was lightly burned about the
brow, the left arm was slightly burned from
the shoulder to the wrist and suffered bruises
and abrasions from flying debris. Mrs. Busick
suffered from conclusion, the drums of heI
ears being affected and causing partial deaf
ness. This morning the father, son and
daughter complained that their sight was af-
fected.
DIR. ]. S. Callen, who was called to the
house last night, stated to-day that he treated
the two children and their condition is such
that ne did not think any further attendance
was necessary. The electrical effect was
transitory and he anticipated no serious
results. The case, he said, was remarkable
one. 1t was surprising that the members Of
the family should have suffered as they did
and yet escape so fortunately.
ANOTHER HOUSE STRUCK.
The electrical storm also created consterna.
ton at the house of Dennis O'Neill, at ELAN.
gowan. A bolt of lightning struck the gable
end of the roof on the west side of the house
and took direct course to the ground, sett
ing fire to the house between the weather
boards and the plastering from the roof tc
the top of the first story window and ignit
ing the lace curtains on the window.
Mr.. O'Neill's two daughters, Lizzie, aged
22, and Mary, aged IS, and his son, Torrance
aged II, suffered from shock. Mary wa.
hurled under table and rendered uncon
scio1s. Lizzie's left arm and leg were para
| lyzed for some time. The son was thrown
| against wall, but escaped injury. DIR. G
| Nj. Hamilton was summoned to attend the
victims. He says all will fully recover.
At about the same time 0'Neill's house was
struck bolt hit large oak tree standing
near the place and splintered it. 1t is stated
that both these bolts came from a perfectly
clear sky, and that the sun was shining a.
the time. DIR. Hamilton was driving through
Ellangowan at the time.
The fire at the O'Neill house was ex
tinguished by bucket brigade before mucl