Youth Killed By Lightning During Storm

Youth Killed By Lightning During Storm

Richard Gauss Loses Life While Caddying At Barton Hills Golf Club

Richard “Dickie” Gauss, 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gauss, 802 W. Washington St., was killed instantly when he was struck by lightning on the Barton Hills Country Club golf course about 6 o’clock last night.

Richard had been caddying for two golfers, Josephine Lange, 715 S. Forest Ave., and Ronald Butler, Detroit. It was his first day as a caddy at the Barton Hills course.

A sudden rainstorm had interrupted the golf game and the party had taken refuge under a clump of closely-spaced trees between the ninth and first fairways, about half way up the latter.

As the rain continued, Guy Russell, another caddy, was sent to the clubhouse after a car to bring the party to shelter. While he was gone, lightning struck the tree beside which Richard was standing.

Knocked To Ground

Miss Lange and Mr. Butler, neither of whom was injured, were said to have felt a shock and looked around and saw Richard lying on the ground. The three of them had been standing about three feet apart and Richard was about two feet from the tree which was struck.

Physicians and Detroit Edison Co. employes administered artificial respiration for two hours, and the sheriff’s department was called to put its inhalator into service.

Richard’s father is a lieutenant in the Ann Arbor fire department and a veteran golfer for whom Richard had caddied a number of times.

Former City Champion

Miss Lange is a former city women’s championship golfer and Mr. Butler, who is employed by the Michigan Inspection Bureau, is a former resident of Ann Arbor, the son of the late Hackley Butler, a former Chamber of Commerce secretary.

Richard was well-known locally as a tap dancer and was described by critics as having considerable talent. He appeared in numerous University and city dance revues and dramatic productions since 1935 and had taken part in the annual “Juniors on Parade” show for several years.

He also participated in Children’s Theater productions, minstrel shows and school plays. As well as his dancing and dramatic work, Richard was known for his ability as a singer and pianist.

Born In Ann Arbor

Richard was born July 6, 1928, in Ann Arbor. He was a student at Slauson junior high school, where he was to have entered the ninth grade this fall. He attended Bach elementary school, where he was a safety patrol captain.

He was a member of the Bethlehem Evangelical Reformed Sunday school and was confirmed in the church this year.

Besides his parents, he is survived by his grandmother, Mrs. Emma Mayer of Ann Arbor, and an aunt, Mrs. John J. Burby, of Los Angeles, Calif.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Muehlig funeral home, with Rev. Theodore A. Schmale officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem cemetery. Friends may call at the Muehlig chapel.

Lightning Victim

Richard Gauss, 14 years old, 802 W. Washington St., was killed when struck by lightning while he was caddying on the Barton Hills Country Club golf course at about 6 o’clock last night.