The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-11
LIGHTNING KILLS
WILLIAM HAGAN
Terrific Electrical Storm In New
York and Long Island.
BOY ALSO STRUCK IN STREET.
Catholic Church Struck and Congregation
frightened Cars Hit and Several
Fires Started al Same Tine.
BOY ALSO STRUCK IN STREET.

New York. Aug. 11.-During the terrino
rain and wind storm accompanied by oe-
structiye lightning yesterday afternoon
two were killed. dozens OF people were
shocked and a few seriously; street caif
were struck; a church was hit, fagpoles
splintered and houses set on hre.
The fury OF the storm was felt general
" over the eastern end OF the island.
Near the sea the wind and lightningwsre
SO severe that at Coney Island and
brighton folks were thrown into panic,
believing that hurricane hao MT e''
shore
William Hagan, "a years OF age.
truckman. OF Grand avenue and Dean
street Brooklyn, was struck dead py
lightning I'm the afternoon storm he was
employed by the Brooklyn Alcatraz AS
phalt company.
He was driving at Third ayer1e and
Seventh street at $50 o'clock, when
Iightning bolt struck him. He lurched for
ward and fell headong to the street. The
horses. though unhurt, were thrown py
the electric force.
CAUSED TWO DEATHS.
Haean was removed TO a store. The am
bulance surgeon who was called said ne
was dead The bolt struck Hagans right
shoulder and passed out through his right
shoe His waistcoat. shirt and the right
leg OF his trousers were cut as II oy
knife. There was no mark on his boA.y
except at the shoulder.
Samuel Kaplan, ii years or age, VINO
lived at si2 Osborne street. was killed at
Christopher street and Newport avenue,
East New York, by bolt OF lightning
that struck him on the top of the head
and passed through his body
He, had taken of his shoes preparatory
To wading through puddle of water the
bolt tore up the ground and when kapian
was found he was lying face downward
in a curious. zigZag ditch.
The body was taken To the Bradford
Street hospital and afterward 10 The iAb-
erty street police station, where IL was
identified by the boys mother. who was
half-crazed from the shock.
CUT FLAGSTAFF FROM TOWER.
In the Roman Catholic Church of our
Lady of Lourdes In Aberdeen street. near
Broadway East New York. dozen per-
s.sons were praying before the famous
grotto blinding fash of lightning and
a terrific crash startled them into panic.
The Rev. Father Eugene Pursiele, pas
tor Of the church, besought them to pray
Many fell upon their knees and prayed
fervently but others took 90 their heels
A bolt OF lightning had struck the naS-
staff on the tower OF the church, cutting
II off neatly at the base and hurling II
with tremendous chatter TO the street, 100
feet below.
At Alabama avenue and Fulton street.
Brooklyn, a transfer point for the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit. a hundred or more
persons who were waiting for cars in the
protection OF doorways were thrown into
q real panic when ball OF fire hit a troll
ley wire
Two women were stricken so severely
that they had to be taken TO the Brad
ford street hospital They were Anna
Bennett. II years old, 11 Summer avenue,
and Mrs. Edna Rodgers. 70 years old. Y
Church street. Jamaica. number OF
others who were affected were able 10
go home.
The storm flooded everything from
Rockaway Point to Cedarhurst. At Rock
away park many OF the tents we're blown
down. but no one was hurt. Lightning
struck the hotel of Daniel Gala CHER at
Rockaway beach and Mr.. Gallagher and
a bartender were stunned for few min
utes. Several residences were hit by
lightning and burned.
The steeple OF 81. Johns German Evan
gelical Lutheran church. at Sixth and
Garden streets, Hoboken. was struck by
4 lightning and a large hole made in II.