New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
ELECTRIC LIGHTS PUT OUT
THE UNITED STATES CoMPANY'S STATION
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.


BoARD-THE LAMPS IN A LARGE PART OF
THE CITY ExTINGUIsHED-DYNAMos
DAMAGED AND OTHER MAcHIN-
ERY INJURED
Just before o'clock last night, while the thuns
dcr-storm was at its height, there was terrific
crash in the building Nos. Ala and Ale East
Twenty -ninth-st., near the East River, which Is
sub-stat0n of the United States Illuminating
Company, and few minutes later all the electric
lights in the district between Twenty-thrd and
Eighty-ffth sts., and as far west as Eighth-ave'
suddenly went out The sub-station had been struck
by lightning.
About q dozen men were in the two-story build
ing when a binding fash, accompanied simui-
taneously by deafening thunder clap nearly
knocked them Off their feet moment later tho
switch board against the front wall OF the build
ing was ablaze and the flames were shooting up
toward the roof An alarm Of fire brought several
companies OF frcmen in hurry through the
drenchng rain. At that moment it seemed as IL
the deIuge from above must quickly put an end
to the fire, but the flames only gathered moro
force rs streams from three engines were added
to the downpour and third alarm was sounded.
THE MEN IN TIE PLACE HAD FLED
The men in the sub-staton had fed at the be-
ginning OF the outbreak, most Of them being ter
ror-stricken by the lightning. For few minutes
the flames in solid column from the roof.
but the streams from dozen engines soon began
to tell. and before 10 o'clock the fire was out
The trouble was not over yet however. Flashes Of
lightning occurred at frequent intervals. and every
time there was unusually bright fash streams OF
fire seemed to shoot out Of the many electric light
wires which entered the building and there was
ell, oh do tba do Every.
thing in the bailding was wet and the firemen said
that wet things conducted electricity easily. They
thought the fire had been caused by lightning
which travelled in on the wires
George Roth an inspector for the Board OF Elec-
trical Control, agreed with the fremen. He also
suspected that some Of the wires entering tho
building were not properly lnsula't
WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS.
For time nobody connected with the sub.
station could be found The engineer had left the
place after drawing the boiler fires and shutting
down the machinery. William Roe, superin-
tendent Of the station, was found about lo
o'clock He said he thought the lightning had
struck the roof OF the building. Ii was PLAIN
to him that the station would be disabled for
time There were twenty-seyen dynamos IN tho
building, and they had cost over 50. 900 each os
about $50. 900 altogether. 1t was impossible 10
tell how badly the dynamos were damaged Mr..
Roe thought that the chief damage would resuio
from the water causing rust IN some parts Oh Ine
exceed 81, 900.
At 0:4O D. m an electric light wire set fire to
a shed az No 500 Third-ave. and caused sllgho
damage by fire.
PLAYING HAVOC IN A RESTAC RANT
During the thurkdcr storm last night about lOC
people were peaceably eating their supper In tina
Dairy Kitchen in Fourteenthst.. when rampant
thunderbot struck the electric wires leading into and
lighting the kitchen The wires. which enter over tho
door run along the of the room underneath the
floor which is of ground glass, in wooden case 1he
insulation material on wires in this case was burned
and tho wires themselves entirely consumed
IOr few minutes II looked though the building Was
doomed as the bright flashes and glare OF the IRE could
pAnly gh the glass floor but In spite OF
this the utmost coolness prevailed and few OF those
present left their seats while the orchestra played
lively march and the waters waited. A force Of en-
ployes under the direction OF the head waiter, man
fully faced the erratc flames and with hand grenades
fire extinguishers and water buckets managed TO put
ont the fire by the time the firemen had arrived BIt
for the GOODNESS and presence OF mna OF Mr. Conrad
the head walter, and Others. serious fire might have
occurred. The damage will amount TO about 800,
part Of the loss being In fancy candy boxes,
The lights in the City Hall Park went out after
one of the first flashes Of lightning and
were not turned on again for nearly two hours.
What caused the trouble could not he learned at tho
United States COmpanys sub-statiOn in Fulton
ST There il was said that the circuit IN the
Park was supplied from the Stanton-st station.
Al the latter place il said that no trouble
had occurred on the circuits supplied from tho
station The men in charge of the place would
not discuss the situation.