Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-07-31
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

violence swept over greater New York
Yesterday. Lightning struck in many
places and a number of people were
killed by the bolts.
AT Coney Island particularly heavy
bolt descended in the midst OF scores OF
bathers and sightseers, and the victims
numbered nearly twoscore. Five people
were killed outright and % were injured,
all of them being knocked seDseless.
Eight of those rendered unconscious we're
seriously hurt and had to be removed to
the hospital.
The storm struck COney Island about
4;3O o. m. The clouds were so dense
that it seemed as though darkness WAS
about to fall The lightning flashed in
CO ssantly, and there we're terrific peals OF
thunder.
The day had been pleasant up to early
in the afternoon aud large crowds were
dispOrting themselves in the surf or
watching the bathers. The boardwalk
was crowded, and when the rain began
to descend there was quick rush to
shelter. A large number of bathers and
spectators were driven under the board
walk in front of the Parkway baths.
The walk at this point is about eightfeel
high.
Several people were under the walk,
clustered about or near a large iagpole,
which goes through the Boardwalk and
has about six feet OF its base iu the sand.
The bolt of lightning struck the top
of the pole, shattering it and, going
down. seemed to burst with terrific re.
port right in the midst of the people
under the Boardwalk. They were hurled
in every direction or prostrated where
they stood. Five were killed instantly
and % we're injured, eight of tie latter
being severely shocked and burned.
Twenty others were rendered uncon-
scious, but they soon revived and were
able TO proceed TO their homes. The
spot where the bolt struck looked like a
battlefield. The dead and injured, still
aud white, or gasping and twitching,
lay scattered in every direction, while
these who were uninjured we're shouting
and screaming hystericslly. The rain
was descending in torrents and the light
ming and thunder kept up their flash and
roar, adding to the terrors OF the scene.
While the storm was 1.-The worst, i'm
mediately after the FIVE persons were
killed, many Of the women dropped to
their knees and began to pray. The
men we're almost as badly frightened as
the women, and many, with their
families. started on the run for the
brighton Beach Hotel in a rain that
drenched them to the skin in the first
10 feet. 1t was at least an hour before
the crowd had become calmed so that
persons could start for their homes and
many of the women had to be carried to
the cars.
The tragedy seemed to strike terror to
ell the people along the beach, the news
of it spreading with great rapidity, and
10 an almost incredibly short time the
beach was deserted.
When the bolt struck the Aagpole it
cut the halyards holding an immense
American flag. The flag dr. 'pped to the
crosstrees of the 6agpole and hung there,
seemingly at hallmast over the scene oil
death.
At the same time the tragedy was en-
acted at Coney Island bolt struck a
cedar tree at Forty-ninth street and
Hsrway avenue, Gravesend Beach, a
short distance from Coney Island. Many
people had taken shelter from the rain
under it. The bolt struck and killed
Henry Ralzadell. His son, William,
l3 wears old; David McCauley and John
Appel were severely shocked.
Lightning struck at various points in
New York city. A store in Flushing
avenue, Brooklyn, was burned and cal
in Sixth avenue, Manhattan, was set on
fire, but the occur pants escaped unhurt'
The electric light and the telephone
wires in Bellevue Hospital we're struck
several times, extinguishing all the lights
and ,ausing much alarm among the
patients