As a violent electrical storm swept across the farmland northwest of New Salem in 1914, Ernest Bohnke hurried to get two frightened horses into the barn.
Rain had begun to fall, and the animals were panicking beneath the flashes of lightning. Bohnke climbed down from the grain wagon and began leading them toward shelter. He had nearly reached the barn when a bolt struck without warning.
The lightning killed Bohnke and both horses instantly, then set the barn ablaze. Those inside the nearby farmhouse rushed into the storm and pulled his body away from the burning structure moments before it was consumed by fire.
Lightning Bolt Takes Man’s Life
MANDAN, North Dakota. — Ernest Bohnke was instantly killed, two horses which he was leading were also killed and a barn was completely destroyed by fire, as a result of a lightning bolt which struck at the Ira Millhouse place northwest of New Salem.
Bohnke was in the field at the Millhouse farm helping to haul in grain. When it started to rain he started for the barn. The horses were frightened by the terrific electric display, and Bohnke got down from the wagon to lead them.
Just as he was going around the corner of the barn, the lightning struck. Bohnke was instantly killed, as were both the horses. The bolt set fire to the barn, and it was completely destroyed.
People in the farm house rushed out and took the body of the dead man away from the side of the barn, saving it from incineration.
Ernest Bohnke was born at Chicago on January 24, 1884, and came to New Salem with his parents in 1885. The family has since made their home at the homestead 12 miles northwest of New Salem. The deceased was well known and his tragic death was a great shock to his many friends.
Source: Bismarck Daily Tribune. Bismarck, Dakota, N.D. September 16, 1914.
