The record-union., 1891-04-14
THUNDER N LIGHTNING!
There Wasn't Much oflt, But Enough,
Such as 1t Was.
A Shot From Natures Electric Battery
Falls INTO the City and
Hits House.

II this new order of things should con-
tinue, the lightning vender will be ex-
tending his journeys to this State. A few
minutes before u o'clock yesterday, and
while the rain was pouring down heav-
lily, there came flash of lightning, fol-
lowed by roar of thunder that sounded
so say old soldiers-exactly like
volley from field battery, accompanied
by the rattle Of nuslletry nearer by.
The echoes had hardly ceased when
'clap'' came another volley, that seemed
10 break directly over the city. And so
1t did, for the bolt of lightning that had
just preceded it descended within the city
limits. 1t struck large sycamore tree
at Third and r streets, from which it
tore a strip of bark, and then caromed
upon house occupied by a family named
Hanrahan.
The collision was so severe as to shatter
several windows and to cause an electric
thrill among members of the household.
While it is not common thing for
lightning to reach the earth in this part
of the State, still it has done SO before
now. Some years ago a barn was shat
tered out near Florin, and later still a
horse was killed near the city during an
electric storm in April.
SERGEANT BARwICK's OFFERING.
The following Signal Service records
show the number and dates of electrical
or lightning displays that have been seen
In this city or the surrounding hills and
mountains, beginning with July, 1877,
when the station was opened:
1877, July goth; 1878, January 22nd,
March 20th, May 2Sth and August 10th /;
1879, March Both, April 4th two, May
25th and October 7th; 1880, March 3rd,
June 18th and July 25th; 1881, April 9th,
April 2lst May 23rd and June 2nd and
3rd 1882, March 18th, June I4th. July 3rd
and September 18th; 1888, March 9th and
May 9th 1884, May 18th, 18th and 18th !;
1885, April 2nd, 7th and Sth, September
5th and 9th and October 9th; 1886, Jan
uary 10th and March 4th 1887, May Both,
September 22nd, November 5th; 1883,
May 18th and 18th, September 18th, three
storms OF severe thunder and lightning,
September 18th another severe onei 1889,
March 10th, March Goth, twelve flashes of
lightning and thunder, April 2nd, Octo-
Der Sth, October Dist and November 18th !;
1880, May 10th, December 3rd and Feb
ruary 22nd. Making a total for each year
as follows: Six months of 1877, l; 1878. t;
1879 . F; 1880, 3; 1881, 5; 1892 4; 1888, 2: 1884,
s; 1885, 81 1886, 2; 1887, 3; 1883, 6; 1889, 6:
1890, 3; 1891 to date, 2. Total, So.
The greater number of these were of
mere specks Of lightning seen in the dis
tant horizon, and We're so very far off that
thunder could not be heard. There have
not been more than ten or a dozen that
passed directly over this city in as many
years. The worst one was on September
IA, 1888, when three very severe thunder
and lightning storms, with heavy rain
passed over this city, and is no doubt
remembered by those who attended the
Pavilion during the State Fair, and an
other one on the 18th, on account of
which, if mistake not, the races had to
be postponed.
The electric display of yesterday, be-
tween 1l:50 and 1l:54 A. NJ, was vivid
and loud, there being but two displays,
but they were enough to trighten the
timid.
The rainfall yesterday was 80 of an
inch, making 14.70 inches for this season,
as against BLOB inches to an equal date
last year.
The barometer is still below the 3O-inch
mark, but is falling slowly. The highest
and lowest temperature yesterday was $50
and 49,, as against 67o and 440 one year
ago.
The highest and lowest one year ago to-
Ilay was go and l6o