New-York tribune., 1901-07-19
LIGHTNING DEALS DEATH
ONE FISHERMAN KILLED, ANOTHER
SHOCKED. IN WESTCHESTER
A NEW-JERSEY EX-POSTMASTER STRUCK
DEAD IN STREET-OTHERS SHOCKED
MAY NOT LIVE.

Lightning bolts cost two lives, one in West
chester and one at Cherry Hill. n. j., yester-
day. besides shocking several persons. some of
whom may not recover, and doing considerable
damage to property. The storms which accom-
panied the lightning in places where 1t struck
caused the loss of property in many instances
A violent thunderstorm. which left drath and
destruction in it's path, visited Rockland County
yesterday afternoon. killing George Eberling.
prominent shoe manufacturer of this city. and
shocking his foreman. Edward Gross, besides
demolishing several buildings and fatally injur-
ing several horses and cows
Early in the afternoon George Eberling and
Edward Gross left their homes to go fishing in
the Hackensack River, two miles below their
homes. They were quite successful with their
hshing. When the thunderstorm came UP they
became frightened. and rowed into d place along
shore where there good sized boathouse
Here they sought shelter from the storm. A
rev minutes after they had entered 1T light
ring bolt came through the roof Eberling
struck and instantly killed, and Gross was
shocked into unconsciousness. After he had
recovered he gave several weak cries. which
were heard by people who were passing. They
found Eberling's dead body lying the floor
while Gross helpless. Gross was taken to
his home. where he is in a critical condition.
Coroner Smith, OF West Nyack. took charge
Oh Eberlings body. He thirty-ive years
old, and is survived by widow and one child.
Cherry Hin. N. J.. July 1S-This village
thought the experience of a little than
four years ago was to be repeated this after
noon AS four years ago. a storm came out of
the west. but this time there was an absence
of the tornado characteristics of the great storm
OF 1897. The wind high for few minutes,
but 1t was driving straight ahead, and did
not twist buildings TO pieces and tear big trees
to atoms, as did the great storm. One man was
killed by bolt of lightning.
The storm came up suddenly out of an almost
clear sky. The flashes OF lightning were very
vivid. They were almost continuous. For five
minutes before the clouds obscured the the
flashes almost blinded persons in the street.
Then came the wind. rain and hail. Several
trees were struck The hotel of Max Hill was
hit by bolt, and damaged considerably. Mrs.
Hills first husband. Charles Friedman. was
killed In the tornado of four years ago.
Frederick b. Lethbridge. formerly postmaster
at New-Bridge. was hurrying along the street
TO get of the rain. When he near a
cherry near the home of Mrs. Henry Burt
n bolt hit the tree and when halfway TO the
ground leaped from the tree to Mr.. Lethbridge.
He was killed instantly. Mrs. Burt at a
window. and saw the bolt hit Mr.. Lethbridge.
She tainted. She remained unconscious for a
long time, and IL was at first thought she had
been shocked
-ess-~yyastyveod and River Edge haistones as
large as robins eggs fell. There were two
washoutS on the New-Jersey and New-York
Railroad near Oradell. The engineer or one
train ran his engine and train across one OF
them before he aware of the danger, and
the tracks sagged under the weight. but held.
Bloomfield. n. j. July 1S-Wright c. Davis.
OF S2ruce-st.. this city. was sitting at a WINDOW
In his library on "Wednesday night watching the
/ play OF the lightning, when a ball of hre shot
out OF the sky and fell beneath the window.
Mr. Davis thrown 10 the floor and stunned
by the shock He unconscious for nearly
an hour.
Lightning struck a telephone wire leading into
the hor,e OF Dr. Jacob $. Wolfe In Elia-st,'
tered the house and smashed the telephone into
kindling wood.
Joseph Loesch. employed at the Lappin Brake
Shoe Works, In this town had narrow escape
from being killed late Wednesday night
Lightning struck a transmitter on an electric
light pole in the yard of the works.
The wire leading into the factory was broken
and Loesch started to pick II up. When his
Insulation had been worn off, he uttered cry of
agony and hurled distance OF ten feet,
landing in pile of scrap iron
Charles H. Stagg the occurrence, and with
difficulty wrested the wire from Loeschs hand
When he did so Loeschs body became rigid and
1t was thought he was dead Physicians worked
over him for an hour before he was restored 20
consciousness. His hand was burned to the
bone.
Bevidere July 1S.-In heavy thunderstorm yes
terday Charles Westbrook. prominent farmer lv-
ing in the vicinity of Danvie, Warren County
was struck by lightning while engaged in unload
ing hay. The lower part OF his body and his limbs
were completely parayzed. He take only
liquid nourshment His recovery is doubtful.
The large barn and outbuiiaings of John Cox
near the same place, set fire by lightning
and destroyed. Mr.. Cox's home narrowly escaped
destruction and the members OF the family were
severely shocked
YOTJNG Orig GS IN DANGER.