Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-20
HEAVY THUNDER STORM.

aHA UNDER S1Ok8Ms
The Free Public Library building
Struck by L1ghtning-BaIls of Fire
Play Around - Ono Hundred and |
Fifty Telephone Wires Damaged |
Hail stones-Other Places struck by |
Lightning. ~
Yesterday brought two heavy thunder
showers in this section The first occurred
at about 9:15 o'clock, and the other at
about 8 o'clock. Both were severe, &C
eompanied by vivid lightning flashes and
by sonorous peals1of thunder, that shook
the houses and made window glass rattle.
The rain poured in torrents at about 3:45
O'Clock, deluging the streets and flooding
the sewers The Temple street sewer was
SO flooded that the water forced the cover
off the man-hole in front of the Center
church, and threw it to one side. Sexton
Smith of the Center church filed up the
aperture temporarily with a box.
At about4 o'clock p. m. there was
lively hail storm. The hail stones ratified
around at quite reckless rate.
The lightning played the mischief with
the telephone wires, fully $50 bobbins
being burned out, thus severing the con-
nections, so that New len was shut off
after the shower from tele phone connec-
ton with neighboring towns except by
way of Derby, Birmingham and Ansonia.
The burning out of the bobbins is not very
disastrous, as the repairs can easily be
made, but the out of town connections are
shut off all the same. It was expected last
might that most of the wires would be in
working order again by this afternoon.
Telephone connections could be had with
Hartford and other parts Of the state by
roundabout process. None Of the long
distance telephone wires were damaged,
tezephoning going with them the same as
/ usual. i, ss.es---.... .-:s-
STRUCK A CHIMNEY-A BALL OF ERE.
The lightning also struck the chimney.
on the Hub clothing house on Church
street completely SCATTERING, but doing no
4 other damage. At the same time a ball
of fire descended into the street and was
very bright and dazzling, 30 much SO that
several persons in the vicinity imagined
they had been struck. One lady living in
the vicinity was badly frightened, and was
so sure she had been struck by the light
ming that she was nearly Frustrated and it
took considerable persuasion on the part
/ of her husband together with copious ap-
/ plications of vinegar and hartshorn to con-
| vince her that she was mistaken.
Two gentlemen crossing the green about
this time were greatly startled to see the
| ball of fire strike the walk Immediately in
| front of them.
VARIETY OF WEATHER.
The weather during the day was extra
ordinary. Immediately after the morning
| storm the sun came out bright and clear
| and remained SO until afternoon, when it
commenced to storm again. This was fol-
lowed by clear weather early in the even
ing and the moon and stars shone with
dazzling brightness. At 11:45 pm. it had
| again commenced to storm, with every
prospect of continuing throughout the
night.
FLOODS FROM THE RAIN.
Numbers of cellars in the business por-
ton of the city were flooded and their con-
tents damaged by the flood, which resulted
from the heavy rain yesterday afternoon
At Lincoln and Trumbull streets the
floods of water caused big wash out and
much damage was done.
CHURCH STRUCK IN NoRwALK.
st. Marys Catholic church in Norwalk
was struck by lightning during the pro-
gress of the storm yesterday and damaged
to the amount of $500. The bolt struck
the spire and ran down into the edifce
| Five other places were struck in and
around Norwalk, but little or no damage
resulted.
The church was set on fire, but the
flames were extinguished by the rain. The
damage was considerable, but it is covered
! by insurance. Early service was being
held and the people present was thrown
into confusion. Father Slocum, the pastor
prevented the threatened panic. St
Mary's is one of the finest and largest
church edifices in the state.
BARN STRUCK AND BURNED IN wEsTPoRr
A barn just outside of Westport was
struck by lightning and completely de
stroyed by the fire which ensued The
been harvested and this with the barn wa.
completely destroyed The loss will amount
to s., 900.
IN BRIDGEPORT.
An old shanty in Bridgeport was also
struck, but no damage resulted. The rair
storm was very severe in Bridgeport, com
pletely inundating the streets in severa
portions of the city.
THE STORM IN WATERBURY,.
WATERBURY,, October 19-It has rainet
heavily here since Z o'clock this morning
During the day there was also sever,
| lightning storm of two hours duration, b,
: which much damage was done in this city
and the surrounding towns. The house o.
Thomas Derwin on Lawrence street, il
Brooklyn, was struck by bolt. The in
mates were severely shocked, but no one
was seriously injured.
Had n Fit.
The police ambulance was called hastil,
4