Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-25
PANIC RE|CNS
When Cuardsmen's Camp
Is Struck by Electric Storm,
Half a Dozen Killed and Many
More Are Seriously Injured
At the Pennsylvania State Camp
At Historic Gettysburg.

night search throughout Camp Hayes,
where the 10000 men of the National
Guard of Pennsylvania have been in
camp for week, and which was
Thursday night visited by terrific
electrical and wind Storm shows
that three soldiers were struck dead by
lightning and that nearly half hun
bred other persons were injured by the
electrical bolts or were otherwise hurt
1t was probably the widest night the
historic battle-ground has experienced
since the memorable July days of 1869
Those killed were: Corporal S. Mil
ton CARRIER, Co. C, 10th Regiment,
Washington; James A. Barbe, Co X,
10th Regiment, Waynesburg; Private
Clyde Morrison, Co. D, 18th Regiment,
Oil City, Pa.
The dead were members of the Cd
Brigade composed Of regiments from
the western part of the state. most Of
the storm damage occurring in the sec
ton occupied by them.
The cots of the hospital tent are
filled with the injured, some of whom
are women and children who had been
visiting the camp.
The tent which Gov. Stuart had been
occupying during the encampment was
blown down and the governor and his
guests were buried under the canvas
but managed to crawl out. With the
governor were Charles B. Mann of the
state railroad commissions; Col. GOOde
of the 1st Regiment, Philadelphia, and
Capt Fl. l.. Weaver formerly of the
LIST Regiment. In an adjoining tent
We're the sisters of Gov. Stuart. Miss
Cora Stuart of Harrisburg and Mrs.
Lechler Of Philadelphia and Mrs.
Charles b. Mann of Philadelphia. They
We're there for the evening band con-
cert and could not get back to town
befort the storm broke. 1t was with
the greatest difficulty that the tent
they occupied was kept from collaps-
ing.
The tall iron flagstaff in front of the
tents of Gov. Stuart and Gen. Wiley
was struck by lightning, stunning sew
eral members of the governors. staff
The three guardsmen We're killed in
different places. Barbe was sitting in
his tent with another soldier, when he
was enveloped in a blue flame follow
ing n terrific crash and he fell dead.
The other soldier, Paul Neil, was on
ly stunned.
In each case of those killed the new
army puttees furnished just before the
men went into camp We're torn from
their limbs, the steel rib being exposed
Some of the officers believe the steel
attracted the lightning. The storm
broke suddenly. The wind blew with
almost cyclonic force, the rain fell in
torrents and the lightning was the Sc
vcrest seen here in years. Although the
hour was getting late the camp still
contained many visitors who had been
delayed by the publications. which al
ways obtain in camp the night before
the regiments leave for home. The Cd
Brigade is situated in the lowest field
of the campground and every company
street was soon running stream.
For the time utter confusion reigned
but rs the storm passed off the officers
brought about order and began sys-
tematic search for injured guardsmen,
who were removed to the hospital tent
and given attention by regimental sur
geons assisted by physicians sum-
moned from the town of Gettysburg.
The trolley line between the camp
ground and the town was put out Of
service by the storm and many of the
visitors were compelled to spend the
night in the Y. NJ. c. A. tents. Among
them We're women and children who
almost went into Mysteries during the
height Of the storm.
CARRIER was with friends in the
guard tent when he was killed The
bolt threw his companions In a heap
severely shocking all of them. 1t shot
along the ground 80 feet to the tent of
Chief Musician Morrison, Christler and
their wives. 1t tore Christler's coat to
shreds and twisted his alto horn into
shapeless mass. An instant later 50
yards away another bolt struck Barbe,
killing him. His watch stopped at 1926.
Private Morrison was standing at the
hospital tent when he was struck
There We're seven or eight patients in
it. sufferers from the heat. More than
300 tents were blown down. OF the So
tents of Battery B, only eight remain
ed standing.
During a storm Tuesday night Lieut..
Paul X. Moreley of the LIST Regiment,
was killed by lightning while on regi-
mental duty.