Evening journal., 1915-07-31
One Killed By lightning Bolt That Hits Tent

Hobson. Their tent was the last one
at the southern enc Of Company c
street. II was conical wall tent,
with a pole down the center. held in
place by an iron tripod. Apparently
the lightning followed the tent pole
down and then leaped over to Private
Wagner. who was rising from his inn
provised cot. The ball OF fire struck
him in the breast, traversed his body
and down his right leg, passing off
from the inside OF the right shoe,
which was partly torn from his foot.
AS the bolt shot into the ground.
making a large hole. fragments of it
struck Privates Donovan and Travis
who we're sitting on their cots ad-
joining Wagner's. Donovan was
struck on the left leg and Travis on
the right leg Wagner pitched for
ward as he was struck Travis and
Donovan we're partly stunned but not
made unconscious. Hobson had drop
ped his bayonet while trying to close
the front of the tent TO keep out the
rain and was leaning over to pick up
the bayonet and was facing Wagner
when the lightning descended. Hob
son was stiffened as the electrical
shock went through him. but was un-
hurt Travis hobbled from the tent
and shouted for help. Sergeants Far
rem. Haggerty and Ray. and men from
nearby tents dashed to the stricken
tent, summoned the ambulance corps
and Major Samuel Wagner and the
injured men were rushed to the hos
pital, where Sergeant Kitchens and
the hospital corps under the direction
Of Major Samuel. surgeon. began ar
tihcial respiration and stimulating
Treatment on Wagner.
Never mind MS, try 10 bring Wag-
ner back" remarked Travis and Dono-
van when Major Samuel turned to
them 10 make a hasty examination Of
their injuries.
Governor Notified.
AS soon es the storm abated some
what Captain Clarence NJ. Dillon. regi-
mental adiutant hastened To Governor
Miller's headquarters and notified
General Wickershom Of what had oc-
CURED. Governor Miller. General
Wickersham. Colonel George A. Eli
ott Colonel Stover. Major Marshall.
surgeon Of the general stan. and e. w.
Duke. assistant secretary OF the Ma
tional Security League OF New York.
Immediately sped in automobiles 10
the hospital. The automobile contain
ing the Governors party became
stuck in a run of water and mud.
formed by water coursing down the
sloping field, and the party Jumped out
and walked the remainder of the wav
Governor Miller saw that Major Sam
uel and Major Marshall and the hos
pial corps we're doing all they could
About that time Travis and Donovan
had recovered sufficiently TO be able
to walk about They had slight burns
on their legs. but the muscles and
ligaments we're drawn and stiffeneo
by the shock
Colonel Theodore Townsend. com
mander Of the regiment. addressed Oh
mon Of the regiment. who we've cath
cred about anxious To learn how seri
ously their comrades were hurt, tellin
them of tho attompt being made 10 re
viNe Wagner and that Travis and Dono
van were out Of danger Colonel Town
I send then asked the men to retire I
. their company streets. so that thor
would be free circulation OF air abon
the hospital, and the militiamen obe,ct
Shortly after Wagner was strick s
q Captain Ellison suggested that a pulmo
tor be obtained from the police station
Harry y partington, manager Of IN
Gomery Schwartz Company. WAS d
camp with Hudson Six automobile, an
| volunteered 10 60 TO Wilmington TO ee
the pulmotor With Sergeant Sawdo
he started out during the tail.end of IN
storm, and Captain Dillon called the "a
lice station and asked that the pairc
wagon start southwark along the Ne,
) Castle road with the pulmotor until /
could meet Mr.. partington.
The patrol wagon had speeded Al,
far as Harry J. Stoeckle's countr,
home. at Landers Lane. between VIII
mington and New Castle, when Mr.
Partington dashed along. He was
/, going at such high speed and ths
roads we're so slippery. that he rar
- a quarter Of mile beyond the auto
patrol before he could turn around
r The pulmotor was hastily transferred
2 and MIR. Partington started on a mar
run for camp. Through New Cast,
I at a speed of nearly mile a minute