Capt. Armstrong and his two sons were in the field last Wednesday afternoon, where the boys were plowing, when a cloud came up in the west and Mr. Armstrong started for the house. Before he reached the house the storm came on, and his sons quickly unhitched and sought refuge with their father in the barn,–a common western stable with a slough-grass roof. They had but just entered the barn and were fastening the horses, when there came a flash of lightning, which struck the barn, instantly killing Capt. Armstrong and his two sons and four horses which were in the barn. The fifth horse was knocked down by the shock but was not killed.
The only other persons on the farm were Mrs. Armstrong and daughter, Katie, and her daughter-in-law and little child. The first intimation they had of the awful affair, was when discovering the barn was on fire they ran out to it, and beheld the deadly work of the lightning's stroke. Katie at once ran for their nearest neighbor, who lived fully a half mile from them, while Mrs. Armstrong rushed into the burning building and dragged out the lifeless bodies of her loved ones. Charley, her youngest son, was nearest the door and he was first taken out. William was next, but the horse which had been stunned by the stroke was lying partly on his body, and it was only by super-human exertions that she exceeded in getting the body out. By jerking and kicking she got the animal upon its felt several time, but each time it fell back again. She finally got it up, turned it our, and carried out her oldest son, William. Her husband's body laid about 25 feet from the other, and several times while struggling frantically to get William's body from under the horse she had to run to her husband and brush from his clothes the burning coals which were falling upon him. She then plunged into the flames and smoke and carried out her husband, as the roof and sides were falling in. Neighbors soon arrived, but the barn was wholly destroyed. The remarkable heroism and presence of mind of Mrs. Armstrong and her courage and endurance through their terrible ordeal, almost exceeds belief.
The bodies were not disfigured in the least, but appeared as if fallen asleep.
The only other persons on the farm were Mrs. Armstrong and daughter, Katie, and her daughter-in-law and little child. The first intimation they had of the awful affair, was when discovering the barn was on fire they ran out to it, and beheld the deadly work of the lightning's stroke. Katie at once ran for their nearest neighbor, who lived fully a half mile from them, while Mrs. Armstrong rushed into the burning building and dragged out the lifeless bodies of her loved ones. Charley, her youngest son, was nearest the door and he was first taken out. William was next, but the horse which had been stunned by the stroke was lying partly on his body, and it was only by super-human exertions that she exceeded in getting the body out. By jerking and kicking she got the animal upon its felt several time, but each time it fell back again. She finally got it up, turned it our, and carried out her oldest son, William. Her husband's body laid about 25 feet from the other, and several times while struggling frantically to get William's body from under the horse she had to run to her husband and brush from his clothes the burning coals which were falling upon him. She then plunged into the flames and smoke and carried out her husband, as the roof and sides were falling in. Neighbors soon arrived, but the barn was wholly destroyed. The remarkable heroism and presence of mind of Mrs. Armstrong and her courage and endurance through their terrible ordeal, almost exceeds belief.
The bodies were not disfigured in the least, but appeared as if fallen asleep.
Capt. Armstrong and his two sons were in the field last Wednesday afternoon, where the boys were plowing, when a cloud came up in the west and Mr. Armstrong started for the house. Before he reached the house the storm came on, and his sons quickly unhitched and sought refuge with their father in the barn,–a common western stable with a slough-grass roof. They had but just entered the barn and were fastening the horses, when there came a flash of lightning, which struck the barn, instantly killing Capt. Armstrong and his two sons and four horses which were in the barn. The fifth horse was knocked down by the shock but was not killed.
The only other persons on the farm were Mrs. Armstrong and daughter, Katie, and her daughter-in-law and little child. The first intimation they had of the awful affair, was when discovering the barn was on fire they ran out to it, and beheld the deadly work of the lightning's stroke. Katie at once ran for their nearest neighbor, who lived fully a half mile from them, while Mrs. Armstrong rushed into the burning building and dragged out the lifeless bodies of her loved ones. Charley, her youngest son, was nearest the door and he was first taken out. William was next, but the horse which had been stunned by the stroke was lying partly on his body, and it was only by super-human exertions that she exceeded in getting the body out. By jerking and kicking she got the animal upon its felt several time, but each time it fell back again. She finally got it up, turned it our, and carried out her oldest son, William. Her husband's body laid about 25 feet from the other, and several times while struggling frantically to get William's body from under the horse she had to run to her husband and brush from his clothes the burning coals which were falling upon him. She then plunged into the flames and smoke and carried out her husband, as the roof and sides were falling in. Neighbors soon arrived, but the barn was wholly destroyed. The remarkable heroism and presence of mind of Mrs. Armstrong and her courage and endurance through their terrible ordeal, almost exceeds belief.
The bodies were not disfigured in the least, but appeared as if fallen asleep.
The only other persons on the farm were Mrs. Armstrong and daughter, Katie, and her daughter-in-law and little child. The first intimation they had of the awful affair, was when discovering the barn was on fire they ran out to it, and beheld the deadly work of the lightning's stroke. Katie at once ran for their nearest neighbor, who lived fully a half mile from them, while Mrs. Armstrong rushed into the burning building and dragged out the lifeless bodies of her loved ones. Charley, her youngest son, was nearest the door and he was first taken out. William was next, but the horse which had been stunned by the stroke was lying partly on his body, and it was only by super-human exertions that she exceeded in getting the body out. By jerking and kicking she got the animal upon its felt several time, but each time it fell back again. She finally got it up, turned it our, and carried out her oldest son, William. Her husband's body laid about 25 feet from the other, and several times while struggling frantically to get William's body from under the horse she had to run to her husband and brush from his clothes the burning coals which were falling upon him. She then plunged into the flames and smoke and carried out her husband, as the roof and sides were falling in. Neighbors soon arrived, but the barn was wholly destroyed. The remarkable heroism and presence of mind of Mrs. Armstrong and her courage and endurance through their terrible ordeal, almost exceeds belief.
The bodies were not disfigured in the least, but appeared as if fallen asleep.
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