June 13, 1890
A most terrific thunder shower occurred. The lightning was so vivid and the flashes were so close together as to seem continuous. The wind blew fiercely and the rain came in torrents. Mulford Wheeler’s barn in Pulvers Cors was struck by lightning and burned to the ground with its entire contents. There were four horses in the barn and they perished along with about 7 tons of hay. A barn belonging to Ferrie Gouse near Elizaville was also struck and burned to the ground. In Bangall, Mr. Waters of the Hoffman farm lost 52 sheep to the lightning. A very singular prank was played by the electric flash near Halstead’s station in Columbia County. Mr. and Mrs. Vosburg with their 4-year-old child retired at 9 PM; the infant occupied the crib near the bed. This is the very last they remember until over an hour afterward, when upon returning to consciousness, it was seen that the clock had stopped at 9:05 and it is assumed that electricity entered the dwelling at that time. Mr. V. first became conscious and endeavored to get up but was unable to do so. In a few minutes he tried again and took hold of the child, finding it apparently lifeless. In the meantime, Mrs. V. had partly recovered and finding the room in a stifling condition, crawled to the window and opened it and then turned to her husband and child. They carried the child into the open air where it soon regained consciousness. Mrs. Vosburg soon thereafter became exhausted and is still in critical condition. Mr. V.’s nightshirt was torn entirely down the back. The bed was wrecked and a large hole was found in the feather mattress and one of the bolts in the bedstead has still not been found. The child was found to have a sore on the arm extending from the wrist to the elbow, having the appearance of being burned, with a festering sore in the center. A hairpin in Mrs. Vosburgh’s hair was melted. The infant in the crib was not injured or disturbed.