EWING FAMILY STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

EWING

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/2/2019 at 16:09:52

Decatur County Journal
April 22, l897

A sad case of destitution and affliction came to our notice Tuesday. MRS. R. H. EWING, accompanied by a family of four children ranging in age from a babe, a few months old to a l0-year-old girl, arrived on the D.M. & K.C. noon train from Thayer, Union County, near which place the husband and father had been struck by lightning and killed Friday. The mother and children were on their way to the home of the dead man's brother, A.J. EWING, seven miles southeast of town, from whence, after
spending the winter, the whole family had started overland a few days ago for Pottawattamie County.

Near Thayer a severe rain storm overtook them and they, with another family, were compelled to seek shelter in a house nearby. About 2 o'clock in the morning lightning struck the house. MR. EWING received a portion of the shock. His clothing was literally torn into shreds and his body burned from head to foot. He was rendered unconscious, but regained his consciousness and lived about twenty-four hours. The oldest EWING girl was burned badly on the top of one foot and leg, the
stocking being split as though severed with a knife. The younger members of the other family were also severely injured. The most remarkable part of the whole occurrence, however, was the fact that two of the younger children were lying close to their father and escaped the slightest injury.

The family was cared for at the Park House until Wednesday, when the dead man's brother came in and took them to his home.

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