The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-10
WORK OF THE LIGHTNING.
A Residence OH the West Side Struck
and a Lady Badly
Shocked.
Peculiar Action OF the Electric
Fluid on a Winchester
Rifo.
Knocked u Knife From Ucr Hand-A
Cabin Near Ten Mile Set
on Fire.

The electric storm which broke loose
shortly before noon yesterday did no dam
age in the center of the city, but made it
self felt on tho outskirts and in the valley.
One of the most peculiar freaks of the &C.
centric lightning occurred on the west side,
whcre the house of Elmer j.. Hanna, Gl3
Hollins avenue, WAS struck. The bolt
struck the iron pipe on the chimney and
ran across n supporting rod to the east side
of tho roof. 1t ripped of the shingles II
tore a hole in the roof, There tho bolt
must have divided, one part continuing
down the slanting roof and making its
exit at the caves, where the shingles were
raised in the shape of a curve. The other part
went straight down into the house, toaring
tho plaster from the kitchen ceiling and
from the bath room adjoining. Mrs.
Hanna had just zone into the kitchen to
look after the dinner in the stove. and was
nearly buried under the falling plaster, be-
sides receiving q severe shock. Mary Hill
debrand, tho girl employed about the
house, was washing windows at the time.
The pane of glass that she was wiping was
eplintered, and the pieces thrown all over
her, and she was considerably shocked by
this lightning also. Six other large panes
! of glass in other parts of the house were
broken ut the same time. Herring Mrs.
| Hanna and the children scream, Miss Hill
| debrand ran to the lady's assistance and
rescued her from the mass of debris. She
was badly shaken up. A physician
was summoned, and later in the
day Mrs. Hanna was considerably i'm
proved. In the excitement the dinner wal
| ~,,A%o and r. oHnI - n rio pnrhnrS
the most singular part of the lightning't
work was that on a Winchester rifle which
MIR. Hanna had standing in a closet on thu
second floor. The cover in which it wa
enclosed was torn to shreds and burnt il
several places as we'll. The stock OF tn
end of the steel barrel and a few splinter
off the brooch, but strange to say none o
the cartridges in the magazine were ex
ploded and the lock was left i'll good work
ing order. The damage to the build
ing and contents will amount to abou
300. The upper part has not yet been fin
ished up for living purposes, otherwise tn
damage would have been much greater. MI
Hanna considers that he got of very for
t~unately not to have had any of the occu
pants of the building more seriously hurt
Mrs. W: B. Edgar vas in the sitting roor
the storm. She had n clasp knife in he
hand, having been engaged in trimmin
some lowers. Suddenly there was a blind
ing flash and the knife was wrenohe
from her hand and thrown throuR
the door and clear throug
the adjoining room. Mrs. Edgar
arm was paralyzed for awhile from th
shock, but she soon recovered the use of j
Nothing else about the house was touohe
except the knife.
Persons arriving in the city shortly afte
the storm report shat while passing re
Mile they saw a cabin in flames in the dis
lance. 1t had evidently been fred by IL
lightning as the storm was very heavy an
the electric fluid was playing about at
great rate in the neighborheod Of the bur,
ing building.