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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