Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-05
LIGHTNING on A RAMPAGE.

How the Fiery Fluid Took a Turn About
the City Yesterday-BrOughtOn street
Stirred Up by the Dazzling Visitor.
The city and vicinity was visited by
severe electric storm yesterday afternoon.
The cloud whence the lightning issued
appeared first in the west, and moved
across the northern portion Of the city.
The courses of the electric fluid seemed
to radiate from this cloud as it
moved from the west. Several trees
south and southwest Of the city on the
White Bluff road were shivered, and it is
probable a number of objects on the South
Carolina side of the river were struck,
Judging by the flashes of lightning and
the reports which Immediately fol-
lowed. At a quarter past one
O'Clock the residents Of the central
portion of the city were startled by
vivid flash; Immediately followed by
loud report. Subsequent investigation
showed that the lightning found con-
nectiOn with the electric light and burglar
alarm wires and followed them in their
ramincatiOns from point to pOi2t through
the city. The electric light mast at the
corner of BrOughtOn and Whitaker
streets was struck and the wire
badly twisted. At the same instant the
top of the pole, corner of BTOughtOn street
lane and Bun streets, was broken of, and
the fragments, measuring about foot in
length, were hurled about twenty-five
feet. striking the top sash of the second
story window Of the building occupied by
Mr.. Felix ROseallY and family, who
were at dinner when the pieces
of wood struck the glass, and
fancied that brick had been dislOdged
from the wall of the structure, and drop
ping had fallen against the sash. At the
right Of the window is lightning rod, and
it is supposed that when the electricity
carried the piece OF the pole to the side of
the building il was conducted by the rod to
the ground. Thomas Enrlght was sitting
in door on the northwest corner Of Dray-
ton and BrOughton street lane, one block
east Of Mr.. ROseally's place, and was
thrown backward to the floor of his res
taurant. Although benumbed for mo-.
ment he was not otherwise injured.
A young lady walking on the north side
Of BrOuehtOn street, near Bull, was
severely shocked and whirled quickly
round and round in a Waiting
fashion. At the instant those who wit
messed the scene thought she was the sub
iect upon which the fluid had spent its
force, but it was found that she was only
shocked and for the moment benumbed.
Mr.. Branch, of Branch & Cooper, and one
Of his clerks, in the store on the corner of
BrOugltOn ana W ulldheE btTeelSs dlsO
felt the shock and for some
minutes Mr.. Branch was unable
to hold a pen in his hand. Ordinary
Hon. III. L. Ferrill and his clerk, Philip
NJ. Russell, Jr., were writing in the
Ordinary's office at the court house. and
also felt the shock. Mr.. Sergent, pro-
prietor of the Screven House, was count
ing some silver in the office of the hotel
when fash of fire played
about the annunciator, and with
his clerk he speedily left the Office
and ran out to the waiting-rOOm. The
lightning created a report, similar to the
swapping of a percussion cap, in the tele-
phone box in Capt. FOOtman's Office, on
Bay street. John Feeley was sitting in a
chair in his stable on Bryan street and
felt the shock In the small of his back. A
MORNING NEWS reporter was writing at
his desk i'm the editorial rooms. when his
hands were for a time benumbed. All the
telephone boxes on Bryan street snapped
like the sound heard in Capt. Footman's
office. The incidents connected with the
visit Of the fluid was the leading topic of
conversation in the business part Of the
city duriug the remainder of the day.