Woman Killed by Lightning
Near Village of Kirkersville Friday Evening *** Hairpins Melted, Hair Burned off and Shoe Thrown Twenty Feet *** Tragic Death of Mrs. Theophalis Langel Aged Thirty Years.
Kirkersville, Ohio, June 30. -- Lightning struck and instantly killed Mrs. Theophalus Langel at her residence about three and a quarters miles south-west of Kirkersville about 4 o'clock Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Langel's hairpins were melted, her hair burned off and one of her shoes was found fully twenty feet from the body.
Mrs. Langel was about 30 years of age, being the daughter of Mr. George Green of York street. Her husband was away yesterday afternoon. About 4 o'clock Mrs. Langel went out to feed her turkeys but just as she reached a chicken coop under a large locust tree near the house a flash of lightning struck and shattered the tree, one large limb of which fell upon Mrs. Langel, pinning her down, her body falling over the chicken coop. Besides burning off her hair and tearing off both shoes, the body was not disfigured by the thunderbolt.
Mrs. Langel was the mother of two little children aged 5 and 7 years, a boy and a girl. The children, becoming frightened as their mother did not return to the house, ran out to find her. They discovered her dead body under the shattered locust tree and then ran frightened almost to death to the residences of Mr. Edward Faker, a half mile away.
Mrs. Langel, formerly Ella Green, was a sister of Miss Jessie Green, formerly of Newark, but now living at Pataskala. She leaves three other sisters, Pearl, Jennie and Amanda, Jennie being the wife of Charles Langel, who is a brother of Theophalus Langel, husband of the deceased. Amanda is the wife of Mr. B. Hanna. She also leaves one brother, Will Green.
The funeral will take place at 11 o'clock Sunday morning at the York street Disciple church, the Rev. T. N. Madden of Hebron, officiating. Burial will take place int eh cemetery at Pataskala.
Newark Daily Advocate, June 30, 1900, page 7