The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-08-08
Peter Hejna and his SO1f
Edward killed by Lightning

YER the entire community, when
the sad news was given out that
Peter Hejna, a prosperous farmer
) living Immediately east of the Ja-
nonsek store and his IA year old
son, Edward, were killed by light
ming while stacking wheat a quar-
ter of mile west of their home.
The entire family were on the
| field assisted by Mr.. Hejna's aged
father. The day was very hot
and .sultry and a small cloud ap-
peared in the sky about half past
five o'clock in the afternoon, mov-
ing from west to east. There had
been no rain from this cloud, but
it seemed to be heavily charged
with electricity, leaving out steadi
Iy one bolt of lightning after the
other. At the time it passed over
the Hejna farm, the family were
finishing two of the four stacks,
Mr.. Hejna on one stack with Ed
ward pitching bundles from a wa
gon, and Mrs. Hejna on the other
with the elder son George pitch
ing, and the old gent Hejna ga
thering bundles with wagon.
The old gent had some fears of
the cloud, and suggested that they
go home, but as the two stacks
were almost finished, his son thot
it would be better to finish them.
The old gent thereupon went a.
way from the stacks bound for the
field, and barely had he gone so
feet, when there was crash and
he saw his son Peter fall from the
stack and his daughter-in-law also
At the same time he saw the team
Edward was handling on a runa
way and the bundles therein on
fire with the body of Edward re-
naming in the wagon. George
ran after the team and succeeded
in stopping it and pulled the life
less body of his younger brother
from the burning wagon. In the
meantime flames shot up from the
stacks and the old gent with Mrs.
Hejna dragged the body of Peter
Hejna away from the stacks and
tried means to resuscitate them,
but of no avail. Shortly after, Sc
veral neighbors came rushing to
the place and hurry call was
made for DR.. Blezek, who arrived
on the scene as fast as possible,
but the bolt had done it's work.
The bodies were taken to the
house and the neighbors plowed
around the stacks to check further
spread of the flames.
! Upon examination it was found
that the body and clothing of Ed
ward was badly burnt and even
bones broken in the body, show
ing that the boy received the full
bolt, while the body of his father
showed a few burns and black
streaks where the current had pas
sed. Nothing remained from the
stacks and both wagons were total
ly destroyed, nothing but iron
parts remaining. The terrible
fact stands out with sad emphasis
when the tragic circumstances are
considered and the sorrow left in
it's wake cannot be expressed nor
Imagined. An industrious father
and son toiling side by side being
smitten down by natures angered
element, is indeed pathetic and
heart rending.
| Funeral was held Wednesday
forenoon and both father and son
buried in one grave side by side in
the Catholic cemetery in town.
REQUIEM Mass was offered in the
church; Monsignor Bouska officiat
ling at the home, church and GENE
terry and a touching sermon deli
vered by him at the church.
Peter Hejna was born in Yank-
ton county June %, 1875. In ia
nuary, 1901, he married Miss Ma
Try Kotalik from which union ur
lchiIdren issued. He was a hard
worker and good provider for
Il.. ALL, ,nJ uoc raparaIIv held