The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-17
R. {. HEIDT'S SUDDEN DEATH.
Fierce Storm at WaycrOss Costs
Life-Much other Damage Done.

Fierce Storm at WaycrOss Costs IA
Life-Much other Damage Done.
Waycross, Ga, May 16.-Last night
the city of Waycross was visited by
most destructive electric storm. which
lasted probably an hour. The storm
came from the northwest, preceded by
thunder and the most vivid flashes of
lighting. A dark cloud lay in the
northwest for some time, and about
o'clock it came up in all its fury.
In a short time the storm was on in
dead earnest, the rain and hail poured
in torrents, and the elements were
brilliantly Illuminated with the vivid
flash of lightning.
Mr. R e Heidi, foreman of the
Plant System machine shops, in this
city, was suddenly hurled into eternity
by coming in contact with a live cleo
trio wire which had been blown down
across the sidewalk.
Mr.. Heidi was on his way to his
boarding house when he ran into the
live wire.
Some one at the home of ]. NJ. Ma
this. heard the cry of a man, follow
ing by two or three more agonizing
walls. and no time was lost in reach
ing the place.
BY the occasional flashes OF lightning
they saw the form of man struggling
and writhing on the ground. The first
one who rushed upon the scene came
near walking right into the jaws OF
death. Under the form of Mr.. Heidi
lay the deadly wire still flashing and
threatening instant death - any who
might touch it.
An electrician was sent for and cut
the wire. 1t appears that the wire
struck Mr.. Heidi about midway the
stomach. When found ne was lying
facedownward, with one hand holding
his umbrella and the other the "ira.
His hand was burned to a crisp, as
was also a streak Of about two inches
across the abdomen.
Rad Heidi car'9 to Way
cross from Bruins vIck about 1c
months ago, and he and his wife have
made many strong friends A few
months ago he was promoted to the
position of foreman Of the shops. He
was about IS years of age. Mrs. Heidi
came on from Townsville this morn
ing, accompanied by her brother, Mr.
Henry Arnold, and his wife.
The remains of the unfortunate man
will be buried in Thomasville.
The Southern Telephone Company re-
ports about seventy-five phones either
burned out or cut off, and the cleo
trio light people also report many
wires down. The current was cut off
to avoid further calamities
Several oak trees were uprooted by
the storm and hundreds of dead spar
rows were found on the streets this
morning, supposed to have been killed
by the hail. There was some damage
to the stores on account of leaks.
Farmers report considerable loss. Oats
suffered heavily. Corn is badly cut up
by the hail and gardens are in bad
shape.
Sufferers by the Storm.
Waycross, Ca May 16.-Mr. R. d.
Oberry, a farmer in the Sunny Side
neighborhood, lost rather heavily by
the storm last night.
He had just put his fine gray mare
in the stable and gone to the house
when the stable was struck by light
ming. His horse was killed outright,
also four head of goats and eleven
head of chickens near the stable Two
of the posts were split into splinters
and the barn literally torn to pieces.
Mr.. ]. G. Clough, from the same sec
ton, reports his oats in bad shape,
and a great deal of fencing down. Mr.
c. c. Buchanan had a fine lot of oats
cut, lying out in the field ready to he
gathered up when the storm came on
They will be almost a total loss. In
the Fair Grounds NUMBER Oh trees
were blown down and twisted off by
the wind. 1t seemed to assume some
what of a cyclonic form. and played
havoc with everything in its wake.
Hon w. NJ. Toomer and Mr.. John
w Greer went to-day to Buckley to adj
dress the patrons and pupils of that
school. 1t is the occasion of the clos
ing exercises. Sandy Booth, the teach
er, has made a fine record there this