KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
S.A. GARBER IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND INSTANTLY KILLED WHILE ON THE
ROAD HOME FROM LEON.

The community was startled on last Thursday afternoon when the news came
announcing that SAMUAL A. GARBER, of Center Township, had been killed by
lightning.  At that time this vicinity was visited by a thunderstorm and
shortly before the rain began to fall, MR. GARBER, in company with his
daughter, FANNIE, got into their buggy and started for home.  When near
the OSCAR BRAN place, one and one-half miles northeast of Leon, a clap
of thunder came, followed by a sharp flash of lightning which struck and
instantly killed MR. GARBER.  He was thrown to the ground, leaving his
daughter in the buggy, who was stunned by the shock, while the team
commenced to run and would have probably done a great deal of damage to
life and property had it not been for the timely assistance of HARVE
RAMBO, who had stopped at the BRAN place until after the storm.  He saw
the team running at full speed up the road and going out, he succeeded
in stopping them.  He at once proceeded to look after the lady in the
buggy but was told to go and look after her father.  An investigation
proved that he was dead, being killed by lightning striking him at the
base of the brain, fracturing the skull, which of course, must have been
instant death.  No other marks were visible.

SAMUEL A. GARBER was an old settler in Decatur County and was one of the
active, well-to-do farmers of Center Township, and was an Elder in the
German Baptist Church for many years.  He has resided for many years at
the present home of the family, three miles northeast of Leon and was at
the time of death in his 57th year.  The funeral was held Saturday
morning at l0 o'clock from the residence and was largely attended by
friends from all over the county.  REV. HOLDER, of Batavia, conducted
the ceremonies.  The remains were interred in the Franklin Township
Cemetery.

His daughter, FANNIE, who was in the buggy at the time of the accident,
narrowly escaped the same fate as her father and though she was not
killed, she did not entirely escape injury.  As soon as possible after
the accident, DR. W. VAN WERDEN was sent for who pronounced her
condition a serious one, but by the proper treatment she would recover.
At this writing she is doing nicely.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

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