The Washington herald., 1908-07-28
LIGHTNING VISITS
SOLDIERS CAMPS
Three IenStunned byShOcks
Of Vicious Bolts.
PRIVATE IS FOUND INSENsIBLE
sen OF Mud Greets Guardsmen when
They AvaEe-Last Night Featured
by First Band Concert. n Recep-
tiOn. and other Social Evcnts-Wm
Handle Big Guns To-day
From a stas Ca-sspouasu-

From sta-, Cc1-espondeut.
Fort Washington. Nd, July Z7.-Au is
peace and quiet az the river forts this
evening The Warlike driIIs and prepara-
tons Of the day have given way % gay
ETY. and social life. and Col and Mrs.
CONN are holding an informal reception
FOR the benefit OF the militia officers who
called 10 pay their respects.
All evening the heIiograph signals. fash
ed between the two fortiHcations. which
IN a few days viii be enemies. Tonight
the signals were OF the friendnest char
aCter-
The National Guard Brigade Band gave
It's first concert on the lawn IN front Of
Col CofHn's house for one hour. begin
ming at o'clock The band was under
the direction Of Bandmaster Macleod.
and consisted OF fifteen pieces. The con
cert was enjoyed % the fullest extent by
the regulars. the militia. and by the vyou1-
en- Of the post. wives. daughters. and
guests Of the officers. This is the first
time since 1885 that there has been a band
concert az the fort. and to-nights music
was received with the greater enthusiasm
on that account
Hit by Thunderstorm.
Last night a terrific thunderstor-, 1ar-
its mark on the tents. stunning three
men, tearing an officers sword from its
scabbard. and smashing the Flagstaff on
the old fort 70 spIinters- The lightning
played havoc at the forts From a de-
tailed account II seems that the injured
men narrowly escaped the fate thar
overlook six members OF the Pennsyr-
"a
ization was engaged in joint coast de-
feuse exercises at White Plains.
Private Harry Harpley. OF Couna-v
II. First Regiment. was found east or
the parade ground. lying unconscious
and examination developed the fact that
he had been badly shocked BY lightning
At the height OF the storm. when rba
electrical display became intense. and
the very air seemed charged. Capt For
sythe. Of Company ". sent out word IN
all men on guard duty 70 come in. an
OF them reported except one-Harpla,-
search was instituted and Harplev
was found where he had dropped in his
tracks Il seems, from his own story
that while he was walking his post in the
woods terrific thunderboIt. accompanied
by blush fame and sulphurous smell.
struck somewhere near him.
He realized he was injured Instructive
" ne endeavored 10 make his way toward
the guardhOUse. but felt he was faf1f,g
Consciousness slowly drffted awav from,
him. but he crawled on. until he dropped
innate and senseless-
When found he was taken 10 the e7,ard !
house, but was Immediately removed 10 |
the general hospital. where he was treat |
ed by Dr. Francis J. WoOdman. surgeon |
OF the Second Regiment, who has been
detailed TO duty az the hospital
He Wanted to Leave.
On Tegaining consciousness. HarpIey in
sisted he was all right and wanted IN |
leave, but he was not permitted to do SO.
Upon his own insistence, however. he was
released this morning. apparently none
the worse for his strange experience.
Capt Forsythe's orders to call in the
guard were prompted by an extraordinary
accident To himself. the only serious re- 4
suit OF which was q bad fright He was
walking 10 his quarters when through a 4
.reak OF the lightning his sword was torn 4
rom It's scabbard and hurled fifteen feet
away he was stunned. but unhurt.
Two other members Of the militia were
severely shocked while on duty AZ the
I'D fort 4 bolt Of lightning struck the
Jag stan over the main entrance at The 1
iTaworidge over the old moat and tors II
70 pieces. The two men near the = r.
we're severely shocked, but did not re-
Juire medical attention.
Two members Of the regular Coast Ar
1nery were also shocked. but they passed
I on as nothing and refused to see a
ioctor-
The electrical storm abated along to-
ward midnight, but the rain continued
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