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JOHN STANIEC KILLED WHEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

Johnny
Staniec, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bartley Staniec, was instantly killed
about five o'clock Wednesday afternoon when he was struck by lighting
while stacking alfalfa on the old Robert Murray farm about two miles
east of Silver Creek, which is being farmed this year by Johnny and his
brother-in-law, Delmar Pearson.

The stack was practically
finished, the last sweep load having been put on the stack and Johnny
and John Kmeicik were engaged in "topping" the stack. Kmeicik had his
pitchfork tines buried in the hay, while Staniec had his fork out, with
the tines electrified when the bolt stuck him. He was struck on the
chest, and a burn on his leg indicated that the bolt had left his body
at that place. He toppled backward, but did not fall from the stack.
Kmeicik was knocked down and remained stunned for a few minutes, but was
otherwise uninjured.

Other members of the hay crew, Laun
Hinkle, Lloyd Sutton and James Gentleman, who were gathered around the
bottom of the stack, were all somewhat stunned, it seeming to them that
the shock came to them through the ground, and that dust was raised
around them.

They were working about a half mile from the house
and Sutton immediately drove his power sweep to the house and reported
the accident, Delmar Pearson, who was in the yard, rushed to town to
secure a doctor, and as soon as he was able to travel Laun Hinkle drove
to town and secured a ladder to use in removing the body from the stack.

James
Gentleman had been raking hay and was standing near the stack, but has
no recollection of how the team got away from him and ran, wrecking the
rake in a nearby corn field.

Dr. Elwood examined the body and determined that death had been instantaneous.

Johnny
Staniec was born on the farm home in Nance county, four miles west of
Silver Creek, and had lived in this community all of his life, spending
his time as a laborer, either on the farm or on the railroad. He was a
quiet young man, steady and a willing worker. Last spring he joined
with his brother-in-law, Delmar Pearson in leasing the old Murray farm,
recently owned and farmed by George Cheloha. He was 27 years old,
having been born on March 12, 1910. He had never married.

Survivors
are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bartley Staniec, four half-sisters, Mrs.
Stella Bandur of Duncan, Mrs. Chas. Armatys of Silver Creek, Mrs. Joe
Wrobloski of Fullerton, Mrs. Agnes Niedzwiecki of Duncan; one
half-brother, Luke Staniec, of Valley; six sisters, Mrs. Rose McKay of
Omaha, Mrs. Laun Hinkle and Mrs. Delmar Pearson of Silver Creek, Mrs.
Mary Graham of Walla Walla, Wash, Francis and Julia at home, and three
brothers, Frank, Louis and Thomas at home. He also leaves a host of
other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday morning, August 20, at Krakow church, with burial in the parish cemetery.

Silver Creek Sand, August 20, 1937