Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-06-17
LIGHTNING KILLS
TWO CHILDREN
Storm Tuesday Evening Results in
Death of Two Girls Near Extra
When Lightning Strikes Wire


Avery peculiar but sad accident
happened six miles northwest of Ex-
ira Tuesday evening shortly after s
O'Clock when bolt of lightning kill
ed two girls and stunned two men in
tent at the roadside near the farm
home of Adolph Sorrensen.
j. f. Michal, a widower with his
five children we're driving overland in
covered wagon from Grinnell to
western Nebraska. They had stopped
for the night at the roadside near the
farm of Adolph Sorrensen. The man
had stretched canvass over the
wagon tying one end to the wire fence
and the other end staked to the
ground This made a comfortable
tent for the man and his five child
rem and afforded them the necessary
A thunder storm was approaching
to the tent of the strangers to visit
with them.
Athunder storm was approaching
from the northwest and while the
men were talking, bolt of lightning
struck the wire fence somewhere near
them. The entire party were stunn-
ed by the shock. They soon recov-
cred and the man went to the aid of
two of the children who were still
lying on the ground He was horri-
fed to find both of them had been
killed In his dazed condition he
managed to give the alarm and soon
the entire neighborhood went to the
place to render such service as the
occasion required. There were no
- doc f..x. nt Ton hos h.tf
it is supposed that the wire fence
had drawn the current. One of the
girls was twelve years of age and the
other one nine.
Mr.. Michal who is farmer, left
his home near Grinnell with the ex-
pectations of taking the children to
a sister in western Nebraska The
wife and mother, died about year
ago while the family lived at Red
Oak. Not long after the death of the
wife, the family home was destroyed
by fire, and il was difficult for the
father to care for his children. with
out home, and at the same time pro-
vide for them. He hoped to have his
children taken care of during the
summer months to enable him to look
after the farm. They have been liv-
ing at Grinnell since last fall
The five children are aged five,
seven, nine, eleven and the oldest one
is not yet thirteen. The one next
to the youngest is boy. Dora the
eldest and Flora aged nine were the
ones who were killel. The man was
in Strengthened circumstances and
not able to meet the expenses that
had accrued The people of Extra
and vicinity circulated a subscrip-
ton list and about 500 was raised.
The women did some sewing and
made new dresses for the children
so they could attend the funeral
Last night at four O'Clock the two lit
tie caskets were tamaed in an auto
mobile and taken toeRed Oak where
they will be buried beside their
mother
John Dimick, Hans P. Hansen and
to convey the funeral party to Red
Statzell and Geo. l.. Gore accompan-
led them.
AS soon as the circumstances were
learned the members of the board of
supervisors were called and they
went to the scene of the accident and
gave instructions to proceed with the
burial and the county will probably
be called upon to pay at least a part
of the expenses.
Coroner Newton was in Chicago,
and in his absence Justice of the
Peace Lair, conducted the inquest.
The jury returned verdict of death
resulting from lightning.
After the burial at Red Oak. Mr..
Michal will return to Extra for his
team and wagon and with his three
remaining children will continue his
journey to Nebraska. He is a middle
aged man and from all appearances
is worthy gentleman. He is heart
broken as result of the misfortune
that has befallen him, but feels very
grateful to the people of Extra and
community for the help that has been
given him so generously.