The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-10
STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
Lightning striking in Dozen Diferen,
Parts Of n stty Mt the Same Time.

The Detroit Free Press of March n says:
At 80 last evening the community was
startled by binding flash and a tremendous
crash of thunder, and it is entirely beyond
estimate TO guess how many persons re-
marked upon the impulse of tho moment:
"Guess that struck near here" From the re-
ports which were current upon the streets
last night it is fair TO conclude that the stroke
of lightning In question was one of the most
remarkable electric cccentririties on record.
inasmuch as its effect was felt In all parts of
the city, while the illumination was very
general. The most direct and serious result
Of the explosion was the partial burn
ing Of fire engine-hou5e No 9, on Alexandrine
Avenue. The foreman, ID. Brodprick, was
standing in the west door of the building
when the flash came, and not being particu-
larly affected, stepped into the yard to see
where the lightning struck. He Immediately
became aware that the tower to the engine
house was ON fire, while the roof to the stable
was also burning. Meanwhile, the lightning
having burned the fire alarm telegraph wire,
the stable. door latches were tripped, and,
stunned and staggering like drunken men,
the horses, seeing their stalls open as usual
places beside the pole OF the chemical
engine. Broderick ran back into the house to
give an alarm ami found the hostler stunned,
working in half-dazed fashion to hitch the
being accomplished. the engine was drawn
into the street, an alarm Was turned in from
station No 1875, and within five minutes after
the first shock Broderick and his hose and
pipemtn were half way up the tower doing
all in their power to stop the fire. Besides
the almost miraculous escape from harm OF
the men and horses at the engin.-house, many
other singular incidents occurred. Mr.. Foley's
house, ON Crawford street, was discovered
to be on fire immediat. ly after the thunder
crash A fourteen-year old girl was sew
ing in the upper story OF q house on
Franklin street, and was rendered nearly
insensible oy the shock. When she re-
covered the needle, which she still held be-
tween her fingers, blackened and sOftened by
of sickle. A gentleman living south OF the
Al-xandrine Avenue engfne-house stuod in
the back door of his house when the lightning
struck the building. He says that with the
crash he saw sphere Of fire several inches in
circumference leave the tower OF the engine
house and dart in soul herly direction like a
meteor over the wires of the fre-alarm tele-
graph. A city lampligt ter was upon his lad
der near the corner of Grand River Avenue
the lamp when the lightning came.
His torch was wrenched from his hand, his
ladder shook and turn.-d, and he, very much
frightened, fell Into the mud. Gratiot Avenue
car No. Al was coming down the avenue,
when, blinded by the sudden light, the horse
attached to the car turned entirely around,
and with his head close to the side of the car
stood there whinneying and trembling, and
could not be coaXed to stir until he had been
loosened from the traces and led entirely
around the car back to his place. From all
parts OF the city came reports OF sha tered
glass, shaking crockery ami frightened men,
women and children, but as yet no fatal re-
suits or even serious cases have been heard
of, although diligent inquiry was made.