The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-06-17
LIGHTNING STRIKES CHURCH
DURING ELECTRICAL STORM.

While the Rev. Father c. Mickers
was singing mass at Holy Cross church
ut Bay Settlement, eight miles from
Green Bay, Sunday morning. lightning
struck the steeple of the church, killed
one person. injured 16 Others, one of
whom may not survive the injuries and
partially wrecked the sacred edfice dur
ing its course of destruction,
After hitting the steeple the lightning
pursued course along the roof, ripping
row after row of shingles in its pathway,
and ran down each side of the vestibule,
injuring and shocking those worshipers
seated in the back pews of the church.
Consideration prevailed among the
congregation for several minutes after
the fatal crash of lightning and every.
one of the 100 persons in the church IL.
rose almost instantly. Panic stricken
the worshipers rushed pellmell through
the church Father Mickers tried in
vain to quiet the excited congregation,
and many were knocked down and
trampled upon by the stronger ones a.
mong the number present. Women and
children were pushed aside and injured.
The doors of the church, closed on ac.
count of the heavy rain storm, were fin
ally pulled open and part of the terror
stricken people rushed out of doors to
where they believed there was safety
from impending danger.
Edward Deschene, aged 81 was killed
by the flash of lightning.
Annie Stoffin, aged 13 years, was so
badly burned and shocked that she was
in PROSTATE condition Monday but she
is now out of danger.
John Greenwood, n barber of this
city, was struck on the right shoulder
and deep hole burned through his
flesh. A strip of flesh six inches in
width was burned by lightning from the
right shoulder across the back to his left
hip, 1t was at first thought that his in
juries might be fatal, but prompt atten-
tion by Dr. A. w, Slaugher and DR.. j.
j. Bellin prevented any serious compli-
cation.
The other IA persons were more or
less injured, burned or shocked, the in
juries being severe in some instances.
Peculiar pranks were played by the
lightning during it's deadly pathway.
One. half of one shoe of Mr.. Deschene
and of Edward Besau was cut sguarely
off by the lightning and the foot left
black aud N'ro the ligs'-7in.,
Edward Deschene's body, side and
legs were burned and singed by the fire
which caught in his clothing when the
lightning struck him. A zig gag tear
was made in his coat and trousers
There was one slight mark across his
nose, showing the lightning to have
flashed quickly down past his face.
Much of its volume entered the body.
Sitting one seat away from his broth
er. who was killed was Henry Deschene
and he was not touched by the light
ming Between Edward and Henry
Deschene sat Theodore Van Egan and
his feet were badly burned and his body
severly shocked. Just in front of them
was John Greenwood. Across the aisle
sat Edmund Deschene, second brother
of the dead man, and he was burned and
shocked and his clothes were torn. The
ates favored one brother and were a
gainst the other two.
An aged man, David Leanna, was
knocked down as he stepped out of his
pew into the aisle and many persons
walked over his body as he lay on the
floor unable to rise. He was not SER
iously injured, however
The funeral services for Edward Des-
chene were held on Wednesday morning
in the same church in which he met so
sudden a death and Father Mickers
officiated. Green Bay Gazette