The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-22
THE STORM KING.

Hail-<sreat Destruction of Glass-Extra-
ordinary Hniistones-IIOmses Set ON Fire
ard MRsts Shivered-Streets and Railroads
Flooded.
From the Boston Advertiser June oil
thunder storm OF terrible fury fell upon the city
yesterday afternoon and created decided sensation.
The lightning flashes played with rapidly and WV
ldness which, with the awful detOnations, carried
pale terror to the tmd and startled even the bold
est. Huge drops OF rain began to fall at about a
quarter past three O'Clock, and soon afterwards the
pavements and roofs were lively with bounding hall
stones as large as schoolboys' marbles. Between
four and I'VE O'Clock the sky was obscured and
the heavens were darkened by ashy Clouds in which
the lightning flashed, forked and zig-zagged, while
the thunder reverberated as II the battle on the
improved artillery OF modern times. In the next
hour the electric storm died gradually away bus
the dense gray clouds still hung over the earth and
fastened the darkness Of evening.
The unusual size OF the halstones and the con-
tinuous movement OF the electric iuld were enough
to assure every one while the storm In progress
that great damage must have been caused by tho
extraordinary activity OF the elements, ana when
the storm mad In some degree subsidized
such was discovered to be the case. While
the lightning struckSin very many places, by far
hall, which broke every pane Of glass in every sky
light IN the CITY, by which means hoods OF rain
admitted 10 the interiors of thousands Of residences
and business buildings whose contents were there
by greatly injured. The photographers Of the city
suffered more especially for none are 80 vulnerable
to the attacks Of the elements as they Two hun
dred and three panes Of glass were dashed from the
broad upper lights OF Mr.: Whipple, and Others suf
esea II as promotion the
1t Is scarcely necessary to particulariZe. But
the damage was immense, and though OF
that indefinite nature which prevents the
aggregate from being ascertalned, yet 1t must be
thousands thousands of dollars. Never before IN
this city within recent years has there been such
demand for the services OF the man whose usually
avoided Cry Is "giass puteen'-acce on the last
sylable-as will meet that individual, as he sallies
forth with his stock OF glass and putty this morning
| The rupture OF so many skylghts yesterday was,
moreover instrumental IN some most unwelcOme
revelations; for many VI the wOrtny people who
went to their house.tops 10 improvse some OF
| covering for their households brought face
10 lace with me act that repairs are needed which
| they wot OF before. In some parts OF
the city the hail was inches deep in the Streets 1t
iei so FAST, aud the SIZE ol the stones was wonder
Descriptions but that was little imaginative, per.
haps. Now and then one might have been seen that
was so large. Some OF them were OF queer and dis
Orted shapes, and looked as If they were chips from
| some iceberg which Boreas might have lifted and
shattered into fragments the city. The size Of
| the stones was best realized by those who were
| luckily hit by them and to whom the question 'Wi
| you have an Ice ?" will henceforth have new sig.
! nifcance.
The ways and works of the celestial fluid upon the
| earth are not so easily chrOncled. Seemingly, the
lightn1ngs were never so active and SO 0nnipresen
| before. While the storm was raging there was an
alarm OF fire from box 245 at the corner Of Washing
ton and fremont streets the cause OF which canpOt
be stated. Another alarm that followed it, from box
two was given at the North End. About five O'Clock
| the lightning struck the house OF Mrs. Margaret
Bassett 43 Charter street. The electric fluid passed
from the chimney to the bell wire and thence into the
cellar. Some uine afterward the family discovered
that the house was on ire, and the alarm given
| The building not much damaged. One or the
| really remarkable things done by the fluid was IN
Charles street: TWO heavy two-wheeled carts were
without harm to either OF the drivers, the iron tires
OF the wheels OF one were expanded and thrown from
the feOes, and on the other box was lOOsened and
| the axle set ON fire. A house On Waltham street
had the roof completely lifted off, lad employed
! in the American Union Telegraph office was Knocked
senseless Federal street. but loss Of life was
heard of during the evening.
| A bark in the course OF construction at Simpson 8
dry dock, during the storm, strained her hawser,
which Is five inches thick, and it parted; she rolled
| over her side in which position she now les 1t
will be several days before she can be placed her
keel again.
The Universalist church In East Boston was struck
| and slightly injured, the ornamental work ON the
| spre and few states being torn OH
The house OF DAVIS Damon was struck and the
| gable end demolished, the entry door struck and
casing torn OIL Some OF the inmates felt the effects
| OF the shock.
A few pieces of slate were torn OF of the roof OF
Charles Savages house, No. 26 Chelsea street.
Mrs. Goliath, residing at No. 50 White street, was
sitting In her window sewing, when she was struck
and severely Injured. The lightning struck no one
else and did no damage at all to the house or furni-
ture.
THE STORM IN CAMBRIDGE.
During the heavy thunder storm yesterday after
noon several houses, trees and chiinneys were
struck by lightning. and more or less damaged. The
storm seemed to have been the most severe in Cam.
bridgeport, more particularly on the sOuthery side
of Nam street, towards the river. In this section
|
house on Western avenue, occupied by three faml-
lies, was considerably damaged. The electric
fluid entered the house at the bell-pu,
and traversing along the wire until 1t reached
the bell, it turned It upside down and then
passed through partition into front room, where
it wholly demolished clock, and ripping the pas
tering from the wall 1t passed through into the mex,
house, and from thence through The side Of the
building tearing the boarding away for several feet
Another stroke, shortly atter the first one, struck
the same building on one corner, causing about rs
much damage as was done In the first instance
Nnno nf Tho m tpS yynr In IN
jured. shed on the coal wharf of Holmes & Rugg
River street. was al also struck, causing aus al
When y perfect deuge Of rain was faring
house on Short street and another on Somerse
Tees and c5imneys IN the same neahbornood e
the force OF the electric current. In Old Cambridge
some little STIR enough to cause partial alarm Q
nre, was created az the printing Office OF WEIGH
freaks with the telegraph wire connected
ra lsv sNv was 80 much anscted with nervous
excitement as to cause series OF hts, which
were only checked by the aid OF medical assistance
Two young boys--Charles Herman, aged seven, and
Frank Hampson, aged nine years-were KNOCKED
down and stunned when within about twenty Zee
OF tree which was shattered on Main street, neal
Elery. The effect upon the boys appeared at frs
quite serious, vomiting and temporary raving lead
ing those who picked hem up to believe recover i
In East Cambridge the storm was light compared
with other portions Of the city, We only hear OF tw
places where any damage was done, both belns
chimneys. In Brighton the lightning struck tn
slaughter house Of Stephen Brooks damaging 1t con
siderably, and stunning seven men who were q
work In the building During the storm hailstones
many OF them as large as pigeons eggs fell In pro
fusion, causing damage to fruit trees mower gar
dens and skylights. The horse cars piled their trip
without material interruption, although many of tn
horses were frightened almost beyond ocomotion
The record OF the "oldest inhabitant' can produc
no instance OF storm OF greater severity. AT LAT
! hour last evening the storm OF the afternoon wa
| produced with nearly the same severity, alh0uy
| we have heard OF no furtner injury.
IN CHELSEA.
The schools we're in session when the storm brOk
| ont and the scene IN some OF the schooro0ms wa
| Of the widest The children hudded together, CRY