Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-31
LIGHTNING KILLS SIX.
Five Stricken by One Bolt at Coney
Island.

1,i,,a ,arsops were instantly killed at the
Parkway Baths Brighton Beach ana one
man at Gravesend bay by lightning curing
a thunderstorm which passed over Cohey
Island Yesterday afternoon. Seven persons
were injured at the Parkway Baths ana SIX
AT the other place AT the Parkway Baths
the five people were killed In the sight OF
Z 900 people, who were in bathing or hau
taken refuge from the storm in the restau-
rants near by. In the panic that toloweu
dozens of women tainted ana required 'hie
attention of physicians.
The persons killed at Brighton Bedch
were: Charles s. Demmerle, twenty years
old. clerk. of Flatbush; FRANK n; o ,gtn,.
merle. twenty-three years old, clerk, prother
Of Charles 9. Demmerle; George Dune
woodie, twenty years old, CLERK Brookiyn.
Robert Franklin, thirty-hve years ola. OF
Manhattan; Robert Wasch. sixteen years
old of Bronx; Harry Raleweiler, forty-hFe
years old, of Brooklyn.
The injured are: David Wills, James j.
Dunno, Tina Christensen, harry hronh'
Clara Thiel Mary L. Curley, Isaac RaHe,
Mrs Isaac Raffe, Amelia Schone, Nhliath
Bansweiler. John Apple, Daniel McCaule!'
all OF Brooklyn.
There were 1000 persons bathing from the
Parkway Baths between the Brighton
Beach Hotel and Coney Island, ana twice
that number watching the bathers anu
seated around tables in the restaurants ana
places of amusement when the storm came
up Just after o'clock. Many persons hao
seen the storm approaching and had taken
refuge around the boardwalk ana In the
buildings but twelve persons who were
killed and injured stayed In the water as
long as they could.
They had started for shelter under
one of the short boardwalks that led from
the restaurants to the main BOARDWALK
They were all running and were close TO-
gether Just as they passed fiagpole sew
enty feet high the lightning struck 1t.
An American flag that was at the top OF
~ into ribbons anQ the
spectators saw a ball of fire come down the
pole, circling around like a snake. peal
of thunder came at the same moment, ana
there was a shrek from the crowd that nao
not before seen the danger
The twelve persons were directly unoer
the pole and all were thrown to the ground
They were in plain sight of thousands and
a panic seized the crowd at once. Women
tainted and screamed and no one knew
what to do. The lightning was playing
across the sky and the rain was raining IN
torrents.
1t was several minutes before any one
moved, so stunned were they by the shock.
At last one small boy regained his presence
of mind and ran to the Reception Hospital
on Sea Breeze avenue, a short distance
away DIR. Clay was notified and started at
| once for the scene of death In a carriage.
| the ambulance and DR.. Morrison being
away at that time on the other lightning
case A few minutes later DR.. Morrison ar
rived with the ambulance.
The five persons were killed instantly.
None of the bodies was badly burned, but
| on the head and neck of each there were
slight abrasons. The seven injured per-
| sons were taken to the hospital.
The most unusual case was that OF Mrs.
| Shene, who could not tell who she was or
remember where she lived.
The bodies of the slain were taken to the
| Parkway Baths, where they were identified.
Mrs. Charles Demmerle, mother of two
young men of that name, and Mrs. Wasch.
| their aunt and the mother OF the Wasch
| boy. became almost frantic as they made
| the Identification of their sons and had to
| be taken away by their friends.
Among those who were struck senseless
| by the bolt was Miss Clara Phiel. She and
| Dunwoodie, one OF the dead had been en-
gagged for year. and usually spent Sum
| day at the beach. Miss Phiers first ques-
| ton when she recovered consciousness In
| the Reception Hospital was for Dunwoodie.
| She was not told then that he had been
| killed, but realized when he did not come