Other Event Detail

Circus Lightning
Harrisburg, PA

August 6, 1906

A terrific wind and rain storm struck Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on August 6, 1906. The Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show was having a performance at the time. Charles M. Richwine took shelter under a tree on the show's grounds. Lightning struck the tree and killed him. Chic Befrandi, a Japanese acrobat, took shelter under a tent. It also was struck by lightning and he was killed. Several women in the main tent fainted from fright, and the audience as a whole stampeded for shelter. Several were knocked down, and a number fell from high seats, in their effort to get to the ground. Others were badly squeezed in the crush. Just as the people got away safely, the horse tent of the circus fell, and one of the broncos was caught beneath a pole and was killed.

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