Washington County, Kentucky Genealogy and History

The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

November 28 1810

Washington, Kentucky, October 13

Awful Catastrophe

A fatal misfortune happened in this town, in a thunder storm, about two hours after our paper went to press on Saturday last. One so melancholy scarcely ever occurred in this place. The stone house on the west side of Main street, opposite the court house, late in the occupation of Dr. Johnston, and now of Mr. Fristoe, was struck with lightning. It appears from several circumstances that the lightning descended not in one entire track, but divided in three parts; one of which struck a small brick pillar on the southeast corner of the house; another chimney next the pillar; and the third the top of the sign post, which descending, killed a horse belonging to Mr. D. Dougherty. The lightning might not, however, have descended in three parts; if it came in a horizontal direction, it might have been undivided until it struck the top of the chimney; from which it might have ran in the same direction to the brick pillar and the sign post; descending a little to the latter.

That part, we suppose, which struck the brick pillar, (which was probably the best conductor of anything contiguous) descended to the second story, and made its first appearance in the window next the corner. Miss Jane Rawls, aged about 19 years, a granddaughter of Mr. Fristoe, who had gone upstairs when the fust first came up and was in the act os shutting down the window was instantly killed! The lightning seems to have struck her head first; it broke her comb to pieces and left the teeth in her hair. It ran to the very extremities of her system, and making a small hole, about as large as if made by a small bird shot, through each of her slippers, about half an inch from the toe, penetrated the floor; and descending to the bar room on the lower flour, killed Mr. Benjamin Wood, about 18 or 19 years of age, son of Benjamin Wood, of this county. We infer that the lightning glanced towards a Franklin stove which stood in the chimney, from the window where it entered the room, from the circumstance of Mr. Wood’s sitting directly between the wall and the stove; and not touching either. It made two small holes in the top of his hat, and tore out part of the crown, leaving few other traces of external violence. Another branch came down the next window, at the same instant and struck down Mr. David A. Dougherty and Mr. John Pepper, who were sitting in the window. Bleeding was attempted with them all, but succeeded only with Dougherty; who, after having lain dead to every human appearance nearly an hour, was restored to life. It is a matter of surprise that he was not precipitated into that world, from whose bourns to traveler returns.

It seems, however, that but one side of his body was affected; as the lightening passed first from the facing of the window to the crown of his hat, through which it made several small holes, and ran down his left side, with the effects of a flame of fire. His clothes were considerably rent; as was also the lining of his hat. He was very much hurt; but is now on the recovery and out of danger. Mr. Pepper was but very slightly injured and entirely recovered in a few minutes.

The confusion and distress of this melancholy scene, can be more easily conceived than described. A young fair one, in the bloom of youth, thoughtless of danger, in an instant made a lifeless corpse! Below, lay in the arms of death, a young man, and cousin, for whom she had the tenderest regard which was reciprocated! The same fatal shaft, which swept her from this transitory scene, laid him lifeless in the room below. As if Divine Providence had determined that he should not stay behind her, he called them at the same instant, to wing their way to the world of spirits.

Let those who have seen misfortune in its deepest distress, imagine the feelings of the parents of the young man, when, coming from the country, they beheld their son laid out a victim of the awful storm. Whom they had seen in the morning in youthful gaiety, and in the pride of life, they now saw lifeless and cold.

[Submitted by Nancy Piper]