Quinn, Girl Child 1871 - 1879

QUINN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/6/2014 at 16:16:00

Iowa Plain Dealer, October 17, 1879, P3 C3

Killed by Lighting

Last Saturday evening this section of Howard county was visited by a terrible storm of rain, accompanied by terrific flashes of electricity and terrible peals of thunder. At about 9 o’clock the family of Michael Quinn, residing in the south west part of the town were in bed with the exception of Mr. Quinn, who was within a few rods of his home, and two children, a son about ten and a daughter about eight, the latter at the time standing in front of an open door combing her brother’s hair. A flash of electricity came passing through the roof, knocking off a quantity of plaster from the ceiling, tearing off the door casings and from these entering at the back of the little girl’s neck traversing down the right side and right leg and through the floor, instantly killing the little girl, the boy and others of the family being uninjured. With the family, in its terrible loss, thus suddenly demanded and taken, we mingle the unavailing tear of sympathy. We read that “one shall be left and the other taken,” but oh how terrible to contemplate the taking of a loved one in bloom and beauty of youth, in the flush and hope of health.