The Portland daily press., 1884-08-23
THE STORM.
Lively Time in this Vicinity--Two
Houses Struck and Three Men Hurt
The Catholic Cathedral Loses the Gross


The past two days have been very sultry,
the air charged with moisture, giving promise
of an electrical disturbance before long. Yes
terday morning, very black cloud was seen
slowly rising in the west, but it advanced so
gradually the impression was created that it
would either break up or dissolve without rain.
| About p. m, however, the sky became very
dark, as if two large clouds had advanced in
opposite directions, and, few moments after
the rain drops began to fall followed by sharp
flashes of lightning and the heavy roll of
thunder. From that time until after four
! o'clock, there was hardly cessation of the vi
olent showers, while the thunder rumbled
continuously and the lightning flashed, all
though at an apparently higher elevation than
| usual.
During the showers, between two and three
o'clock, a tremendous gust of wind, or very
heavy squall, passed over TIE city and vicinity.
It's effect was very marked. 1t tlew down
trees of considerable sizs on Chestnut, Auder-
son and Congress streets, while branches of
every size and description were scattered in
every direction. About tie same time bolt
struck the cross on the top of the spire OF the
Catholic Cathedral, knocking off one of the
four balls at its base, and bending the cross it.
self to an angle OF thirty degrees. The janitor
Immediately notified the authorities and re-
ceived permission to rope off the street, but al
most directly afterwards the great cross fell
and was shivered in fragments on the around
below. The Cathedral has been quite untortu-
nate. It's predecessor was burned in the great
fire of 1866, the steeple OF the new cathedral
was blown down in the great gale of 1868; still
later it vas slightly damaged by lightning, and
yesterday received further injury. A bolt also
struck chimney on DIR. Palner's house on
Congress street.
At the islands the wind blew with great
force. Many trees were uprooted at Peaks
and Hog Islands, and at the latter island tents
belonging to camping parties were blown
down. 1t was reported that the flagstaff and
a portion of the Bay View House were demol-
ished by lirhtniDg. The report was incorrect
One CT the yachts in the harbor lott top
mast A schooner, whose name we failed to
get last evening, had her sails blown away,
and was towed to this city. The bark T. B.
Hazeltine, YVES buried gunwaes under by the
squall as she was going out the harbor to
South America, but quickly righted, without
sustaining injury. large yacht also lost a
spar.
The telephone service in the city was sus-
pended two hours yesterday on account Of the
showers, the longest Interruption for several
years, and several wires were crossed The
streets were badly washed by the showers.
In saccarRppa.
A remarkably heavy shower, accompanied
by thunder and lightning, passed over our vii
lage about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon The
lightning struck house occupied By Mr..
Bonsen, on the corner of Depot and Cross
streets. The bolt struck the chimney and ran
over The roof, thence down the side OF tue
house near the windows, tearing up the shin
giles and capboards. At the instant the bolt
struck the house, Mr.. Bonsen stepped to the
window to close it, and was struck down by
the lightning, the fluid passing down his right
side and off his foot, shattering his boot. Mr..
B. was stunned and partially benumbed BY the
shock but DR.. Smith being quickly called, all
proper measures for his relief were immediate
" taken, and he will probably sustain no in.
jury. The heavy thunder, vivid lightning and
ths explosion of electric bolts in mid.air made
the showers the most remarkable ever witness
ed here.
a. house on Brown street, Cum berand Mills,
owned by MIR. Robcheur, was also struck.
There were painters and fathers at work in the
house at the tme and three OF them Messrs
james Bryant, George Lermond, and Lee W.
Brackett were Frustrated by the bolt Brack-
cit and Bryant were stunned and partially be-
numbed, the latter being the most seyereIy in
jured. A physician attended him. The house
was quite badly shattered.