Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-08-01
LIGHTNING KILLS
TROOPS In CAMP
Governor Stuart's Tent Blown Down,
But All Escaped Inlury--FieId
Hospital Full.
Hospital Full

- &''r
Gettysburg, Pa, July 2s.-On the,
eve oftheir departure for their homes
at lest six men OF the Pennsylvania
National Guard were struck dead to-
night in one Of the most severe cleo
trical storms ever experienced on the
historical battle field The Identified
dead are:
PRIVATE BARRE, Eighteenth Reoi-
ment.
PRIVATE MORRISON, Tenth Reol-
ment.
PRIVATE CARVER, Tenth Resi-
ment
Three additional bodies have
been identified.
The body of Carver was severed
In twain as though by sword.
The greatest confusion prevails, and
the visitors to the camp. as well as
many of the troopers. are panic strick-
en-.
There were nearly SO men in the
regimental guard tent of the Tenth
Regiment when the storm broke, and
not one is believed to have escaped
injury.
The men of the Second Brigade,
whose tents were pitched in the low
land, were forced to swim to- safety.
Their cots are floating about the camp
and not tent of this brigade remains
intact
The entire camp is panic-striclzen.
The darkness is impenetrable and
men are wildly running about through
rivers of water seeking the injured
Every tent of Battery B. was blown
down but no one in the battery was
hurt. The regimental guard tent of
the Tenth Regiment was struck by
| lightning and 40 men of Company C
were badly injured. The field hos
pital is full and mem are living about
the camp awaiting aid.
The Young Mems Christian associa-
ton tent, which was filled with men
and women who had taken refuge
| from the storm, was RACED, but so far
as known no one was seriously in
jured.
The storm struck the camp shortly
after 9 o'clock. IL lasted only half
hour. In 10 minutes the trio of guard
men and the bow had been killed by
the lightning, tie tents, which cover
five square miles, leveled, and the en-
campment ground flooded. Each vic
tim was killed while in his tent. Com
ranions of the dead men were badly
burned and stunned and had marvel
Gus escapes from the fate of their
comrades. All of the dead privates are
from the Second Brigade, located in
the western part of the state.
Governor Stuart, with his sister.
Miss Cora Stuart, was holding re-
ception at division headquarters, To-
Gated on knolF and overlooking the
Emmitsburg road. There were more
than twoscore of officers, civilians and
women in the party. Included was
Charles B. Mann of Philadelphia,
member of the state railway commits
sion. In front OF the division tents
Is tall metal flagstaff Although
there were threatening clouds. the
Governor and his friends did not go
into the tent because there was no
rain.
| Then came terrific clap OF thunder
A bolt OF lightning struck the top OF
the Flagstaff and ran to the bottom. 1t
hit the ground not more than a doz-
en- feet from where Governor Stuart
and the others stood. AS it did so
We Gcvernoro and the officers and
civ"ans fell to the ground stunned.
At - same time there were one az
ter anJ 100. three claps of thunder and
| lightning So''s. These are believed
to be the oaes that killed the three
soldiers. Then - wind and rain de-
seconded upon IL npment upon the
PROSTATE forms o, ne Governor and
the others. and the Division tents we're
swept over upon them. alGo. like the
drill OF the militia In breaking camp.
all of the tents. from one end OF the
encampment to the other, were keeled
over.
Pinned beneath the canvas tents,
soggy from the downpour of rain. and
the supports the militiamen were UNI
able for five minutes 10 free themsel-
YES.
In the same predicament was the
Governors party.
Finally quad OF the men or the
Philadelphia regiment, who had seen
the bolt crash into the metallic flag
staff. hurried to the aid of the Cover