The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1905-09-07
BOLT FROM SKY
SN|TES THRONC
Two Hundred People Struck by
Lightning, One Being Killed
and a Score Injured.
Crowd Was Assembled at Race Track
in Utah Town, Watching a Race,
When the Bolt Came Without
a Moments Notice.

Richheld. Utah.-Lightning from a
clear sky hurled 200 persons to the
ground, killing one, Tuesday after
noon. Another will probably die.
rwenty-six more are injured, several
of them badly
The bolt fell in the midst of $500
people, all crowded close to the rail
OF the new race track They ere
watching the beginning Of the .ay's
third trotting race. IL came without
warning. A terrific report startled the
thousands. Half dazed by It's inten-
sity those who had escaped the shock
caught their scattered senses to see
maddened horses dashing in all direc-
tons through the crowd. while 200
men and women lay PROSTATE
The bolt came from broad strip OF
clear sky between two approaching
cloud masses. Its explosion when It
struck on a wagon was the first warn
ing of its presence. The ground had
been wet by light showers and the
electricity scattered over the grass
in blue flames that knocked down,
stunned and burned victims on all
sides II ripped wagon wheels and
seats and shattered the track fence.
The crowd had gathered at the new
fair grounds. They had come from
many surrounding points in honor of
Utah Commercial Travellers day. The
races we're the main thing of interest
and they had crowded close to the
track, all along whose circuit they
we're strung.
When the bolt struck some thought
dynamite had exploded. Others
thought II was giant firecracker. A
rush toward the place followed, as
soon as people recovered their senses.
Horses were running madly. some
dragging carriages and others loose.
Women and children shrieked with
terror.
The area over which the shock, was
felt extended about 100 yards each
way. A number OF wagons and car
riages In this area were broken by tho
force of the lightning.
Mrs. A. ID. Rasmussen was In a sur.
rey with her family OF children when
the bolt fell. The horse ran away and
the vehicle was overturned. Mrs.
Rasmussen was badly injured, as was
little girl. The mothers nose was
cut of H. S. Ivie, horseman. who
had just lined up his sulky for the
start, had a strange experience. His
animal was dazed for several seconds,
as was the driver. Both came to
about the same time. and the horse
bolted at once Still half dazed, the
driver held grimly to the relns and
guided the horse around the track. BY
the time his wits fully came to him
he had the brute under control.
The new fair grounds, the scene OF
the accident, are about three miles
from town.
After the first shock sustained by
the throng assistance was given TO the
injured. Il was found that Altus Bean
of Richfield, 10 years of age, was dead
Among the most seriously injured
are:
Dwight Bean. Richfield will prob
ably die; clothes all torn of.
Mrs. A. b. Williams, badly shocked
and burned about head and back
Mrs, Harry Il. Mills, Richfeld, bad
ly shocked and burned about left side
Mrs. A. o. Rasmussen, Richheld
nose cut on
lneZ Clark, Richtield, shocked
burned over head.
Child OF Mrs Rasmussen, Internal
! ly hurt
w. T.. Ashmus. Richheld, hail
burned off, badly shocked.
Archie Anderson. GlenwoOd, hail
burned from head. badly shocked.
All the above are still confined Il
tAei.' beds
There were about a score OF other,
less seriously injured,