The following story appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot, 3 July 1913:
LIGHTNING KILLS TOWER CITY GIRL IN HER HOME
Father Stunned by Same Bolt Unable to Go To Her
CHURCH BELFRY RIPPED
Houses, Fired by Lightning, Destroyed, Causing $3,000 Loss
Special Dispatch to The Patriot
Tower City, 2 July 1913 — The severe electrical storm that swept this place Tuesday night caused the death of a young woman and a property loss by fire, amounting to over $3,000.
The dead girl is Miss Florence Showers, aged 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Showers, of Sixth and Wiconisco Avenues. She was instantly killed while on her way from the kitchen of her home to the sitting room where other members of the family were sitting.
Miss Showers had been seated with the family when the storm broke. She went to the kitchen for a drink and was returning when the bolt of lightning entered the room by the way of the electric light wire and an open window.
The bolt evidently struck her right foot, the shoe of which was ripped completely off. The oil cloth on the floor where she stood was torn in three strips, each two yards long. She died instantly.
Her father, sitting in the next room, attempted to rise and go to her, when her little brother found her, but found that his foot and been numbed by the bolt which killed his daughter. He was only temporarily inconvenienced and later recovered the use of his right foot.
The lightning struck the double block of houses owned by Charles Berger, of Orwin, occupied by the families of John Lucas and Henry Adams. The houses, built last year, were completely destroyed, causing a loss of $3,000, partly covered by insurance. The Reiner City Hook and Ladder Company and the Tower City Mountaineer Hose and Chemical Company answered the alarm but were unable to halt the flames.
Lightning also struck the belfry of the St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church and tore the weather boarding off the four sides from the top to the bottom. The damage will be heavy.
Miss Showers is survived by her parents, her father being school director of this ace. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Charles Showers, living at Aurora, Illinois; Mrs. Alfred Moffet, and Mrs. George Schrope, of this place; and Ray Showers. Verna Showers, and Albert Showers, at home.
Funeral services will be held when word has been received from the brother, Charles Showers, of Illinois.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
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The news article is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.