The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-16
And Knocked Another Tn.
conscious Late Yesterday
TOM COMMISEEY VICTIM
Well-known Athlete and Qunrryman Met
Death from Lightning at Gawley's
Park; John McAulay Marked.
They Stood Under Tree.

Thomas commiskey was instantly
killed and John McAuley was seriously
injured by lightning, which struck
hcmlock tree under which they had taxi
en- SHELTER at Gazeley's park, Granite
vile, when the Free Booters' baseball
team had been driven from the diamond
by tie shower early last evening Conn
miskey was one Of the pitchers and Me-
Auley was an outielder on the team
When the lightning tore through Com.
miskeys body, it imprinted a perfectly
shipped tree on bis right breast besides
making a mark on the right leg Me
Auleys back was marked. He wac
knocked senseless, but is somewhat i'm.
proved to-day.
The fatality occurred shortly before
six o'clock. The 1Free Booters,p team
composed largely Of workmen in the
quarries, had been out on the baseball
grounds for the usual practice, which
was cut short BY the coming Of the
shower The players scattered and hur
ried home. Commiskey and McAuley be-
ing the last to leave All the others
reached home and knew nothing Of the
fate Of their fellows until an hour later,
When MeAuley was seen staggering up
the street. the rim of his straw hat
torn of aud otherwise disheveled
MeAuley reached the house Of Allen
where he boarded, and he
there fell into McClennan's arms He
was unable 10 speak for some time; but
finally he partially recovered and was
able to say that there was another man
under the tree That was about al the
be was able to impart, and
starting on that clue, searchers went
out to the Gazelev woods. They found
no one there and started TO return, when
they ran across Commiskey's body, lys
ing face downward under a hemlock tree.
a short distance out Of the main woods
The seieotmen and town health officer
were called and the remains were re-
moved from the field Death was prob
ably instantaneous Tt il thought that
tie man had been standing with bis back
to the tree and that McAnley stood 4
little farther away
The latter who Is under the wre Of
Dr. G. T. E Hayes Was able 20 tell
more about the afiair to-day TIE said
that they were standing under the tree
when the bolt hit and that he wss lying
on the ground whom he came 70 his
senses Then partially getting his
Senses be tried TO rise to bis e and
'ell Recovering later ne got y and
stood braeed against the tree, and be
trying to reach the other
mans body with his foot Then some
thing 0f the nature of the cause came
lver him and he thought only Of getting
iway from the tree, SO he started
forth zigzaeging bis way home going
through a quarry the passage Of which
would ordinarily require a man in his
iull senses to get through McAuiev
,avs to-day he doesn't know how he got
through the quarry but he recalls grasp
ing every rock aud dragging himself
llong. IT is expected that he win re.
lover
The hemioek tree shows tbe course Of
.he lightning. starting at the top and
earring It's way down and leaving Q clear
mark TO where the current branched of
md struck the two men. A bruise over
7ommiskey's LETT eve was probably
,aused by the fall b W. Hooker &
1os ambulance was called from this
.itv to carry the remains home
ANNiNiAHAEf ttfHW Win Ills NtNAhtA III
aw John Finnegau having been there
learlv all the seventeen years Of his
at the quarries The dead
nan was 3s years Of age and unmar
led He was born in Port Henry, N "
md he leaves his mother Mrs Ann Com
niskey, and one brother. Barney, and
me sister, Mrs. Ann Kittrick, ia Mill
rocket, Maine; sister Mrs John
,learv ID Claromont N. I'll, and sia
er, Mrs john Finnegan III Granite
iile
He had worked for Boutwell, Milne &
Iarnum as q quarryman Tor many years
nd prior to that was with the Wetmore
s Morse company, He was a star ball
ilayer IN former years and was for
many wears the moinstay Of the Gran
teville team in the pitchers position.
Ie was man Of goor physique, but
atelv his pitching arm nad begun 70 fal
i'm, and ne was playing in the outheld
ii the TENN He was very popular with
iraniteville people
In Robert Emmett court, Catholic Or
er Of Foresters. he was one Of the
harter members, and he was also
member Of The Graniteville division OF
Dncient Order of Hibernians.