The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-07-05
ELECTRIC STORM
At SA[[|SAW
PICNIC CHANGED TO SCENE OF
SORROW. TWO KILLED BY BOLT
OTHERS INJURED.

Sallisaw, Okla, July A terrific
rain and electrical storm broke over
the picnic grounds at Sallisaw, Okla,
Friday afternoon, just as Senator
Thos. p. Gore finished his speech. A
bolt of lightning which demolished a
refreshment stand in which a hundred
persons had taken refuge, killed TWO
persons outright, three others are ex-
pected to die and fifteen are in a seri-
Gus condition, while at least 200 per-
sons were knocked to the ground.
The dead
HOOPER M'KEEL, young son of
Professor Alonzo McKeel, who teaches
school near Sallisaw.
JOHN STEWART, farmer, Atkins,
Okla.
Those not expected to live are:
George Martin, superintendent OF
the Sallisaw Light and Water COM
pany; Albert Peters, 16 years old;
Jimmie Redding, lineman for the light
company; Mrs. Martha Fosher, para
lived from hips down and not expect
ed to live.
There were about 1000 persons on
| the grounds when the storm broke
and great confusion followed the strik-
ing of the lightning. AS soon as those
in charge of the celebration realized
what had occurred rush call was
sent to Fort Smith for pulmotor
which was taken to the scene by Fire
Chief Brun and an assistant on a
special train. There were number OF
physicians on the picnic grounds and
efforts to resuscitate the injured were
made as soon as they could be carried
to shelter The work was made more
difficult by heavy down-pour of rain
Sruck Wires
Temporary electric light wires for
a night celebration had been strung
from booth to booth and to different
parts of the grounds and the death
dealing bolt followed these, knocking
the people down in heaps who had
taken refuge in the booths.
Senator Gore had just left the
grounds when the catastrophe occurred
and was not injured. State Highway
Commissioner Sidney Suggs of Ard
more, who had delivered an ad
dress also escaped without injury, as
did Robert L. Williams, candidate fol
the democratic nomination for COVER
nor and District Judge John Pitch
ford, of Tahlequah.
The celebration had been planned
for two days, the third and the Fourth
but the celebration for the latter was
Immediately called off and all efforts
turned toward helping those who
were injured.
The lightning struck and the pipes
which formed an improvised water
system running to the barbecuing pits
and the various stands, provided 9
widely radiating conductor for the
bolt 1t spread over theg rounds like
a gigantic spider-web of phosphores
cence fire and with it there came q
great clap of thunder, the two being
synchronized, a flash that blinded anC
a roar that deafened, Supplying in
their intensity.
The baleful brilliance of the death
flash lasted a second, but it was suf
ficient to throw scores to the earth
while literally hundreds felt the shock
Women with babes in their arms were
thrown to the ground, squirming and
reeling convulsively as if seized by
epilepsy.
Immediately following the lightning
there was almost complete darkness
it seemed great confusion reigned
and the impression was first gained by
those left unharmed on the grounds
that a large number had been killed
White-faced parents ran aimlessly
about calling the names of their young
Friends and families separated in pur
suit of the days festivities sought
each other with fear and anguish writ
ten on their faces. The work of caring
for the injured commenced, however
speedily, the protection of the tents
and covered wagons being sought, fol