Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-21
SHOCK AT THE CAPITOL.
A Vivid Flash Of Lirhtniux.
IT DESTROYS rHE rELEGRAPHIc INSTRUMENTS At THB
CAPITOL AND sTAkrLxs ooNaRksshxN-A CAB
HORSE KILLED.


CAPITOL AND srAxrLrs ooSaRxssxzs-A cAB-
HORSE KILLED.
At O'Clock this afternoon the Senators ana
persons IN the galleries OF the Senate wing were
startled and many were almost blinded by q
stroke OF hghtning. II struck with q sharp
report and destroyed the telegraph apparatus OF
the Associated Press and United Press 1t ran
around the upper portion OF the Senate chamber
like sheet OF nre. The bright sheet of running
flame was dazzling. 1t entered the senate wing
through some OF the pipes from above.
TIE SANE STROKE KILLED HORSE
attached TO cab standing at the senate wing.
The telegraph instruments were damaged beyond
Immediate repair and had to be abandoned
hand to his heart as Il he felt the
shock severely. senator henderson az coolly
as though nothing had happened, made q motion
In regard to pending bill.
ConsternAtion ON the House Side.
The lightning caused CONSERVATION at the
House end Of the Capitol The House was con-
sidering the eight-hour rebate bill Mr.. Lane was
speaking. The galleries were well nlled and the
House was attending with more than usual inter-
est to the proceedings. The press gallery was oc-
cupied by the usual number and the telegraph In
struments were ticking on the news Just
q as ,,s the 90. hands Of the clock marks. marked
that shook the entire Capitol building. For an
instant the proceedings in the House were
ane Of an n ad
looked up as II expecting the roof to fall upon
them. People In the galleries jumped to their
quickly as convenient. In the press gallery a
s sa o. ~ hrs as big as mans two Co n lists
rHouGHr THE DOME WAS COMING DOWN.
In every part OF the building the shock was felt
IL was apparent that the lightning had struck the
dome.
People In the rotunda were most frightened.
Inc sound on the massive iron dome was terrific,
and people rushed from the rotunda expecting to
see tue whole structure come down.
In the restaurant many members and Others were
luncning, and the shock was felt by them very
severely: The first impression was that portion
OF the dome had fallen, and people crowded to-
ward the outer porrico tn see what had happened.
IN THE SUPREME CoERT
the sound and shock startled the justices 30 that
they rose from their seats.
II was reported that some of the glass in the
building was broken but there was no way OF tell
ing at once whether any damage was done.
In the endorsement OF the Senate an engineer
Electric lights in some s parts of the House wing
were extingrished.
The ~, only wires remaining unlntgr Injured
between the Capitol and the Executive Depart
mentS, and two western Union wires.
Disabled Confederate Soldiers.
WHAT SENATOR VANCE SAYS OF SENATOR BLArR's
STATEMENT.
Senator Vance, speaking to a STAR reporter to
day OF Senator Blair's statement yesterday that
there are 10000 disabled, helpless and poverty
stricken exConrederate soldiers In North Carolina
said: 81 had In my hand only the other day the
report Of the state auditor, and wish had re-
tanned 1t. But had no idea any occasion would
arise for fts use You See the state Of North Caro-
lima gives 10 exConfederates who have lost legs or
arms money to buy artificial limbs, and to those
who are totally disabled incapacitated from work,
the state allows pension OF 800 year. The au-
dttOrS report showed that the entire number OF
eX-Confederates who had received aid In any shape
from the state was about $500, not 2O, 600 by a