The herald., 1894-08-26
7HUNDERBOLTS' ROUGH PLAY.
An Electrical Storm of Marked
Intensity.
Curious Freaks OF the lightning
Yesterday.
Two Men Frustrated by Shocks - An
Electric Car and = Light Mast
Wreoked-GenerRI
Notes.


tant engagement in and about Los An
geles yesterday. The first event was an
electrical display of more than usual
violence, and this WAS followed by rise
in the temperature, which made even
the coldest- bloodsd individual sigh for q
change to Yuma.
About 8 80 slight shower Of rain fell,
accompanied by heavy peals OF thunder.
In the course Of half an hour storm OF
wind, dust and some rain burst with
much violence over the city, coming
from the northeast and passing toward
the southwest. About 9:30 there were
some very heavy thunder claps, accom-
panied by vivid lightning flashes, and
these did some little damage in various
parts of the city.
TWO MEN FRUSTRATED.
One of the most serious results OF the
electrical disturbances wss the injury
received by James Reagan, a farmer of
East Los Angeles, who was struck by
lightning His place ie on the other
side of the Terminal railway, beyond
the pipe works. He was out in an alfalfa
patch irrigating hie ground when it be-
gan to rain. The only shelter near at
hand was large live oak tree. He
sought its sheltering branches and WAS
standing with his hands resting against
the trunk, when all at once mighty
crash came and lightning bolt split in
twain the big oak tree and prostrated
the man standing beneath it.
John Brossart, q grocery man OF that
neigh borhcod, saw the fash and saw
MIR. Reagan fall. He hastened to his
assistance Immediately and removed the
man to comfortable quarters. 1t took
three hours' steady work to revive him,
and then it was found that his right
eide was psralyzed. 1t appears that the
lightning stroke hit him on that side.
At the laut report MIR. Reagan was
slowly recovering, although his right
side was still without strength or feel
ing.
A man named Rice, at work on q pile
driver near the Arroyo Seco, was knock
ed to the ground by the force OF the
shock, but was not seriously hurt.
AN ELECTRIC LIGHT MAST WRECKED.
The lightning also got in Knockout
blow upon an electric light mast at the
corner of Ninth and Lemon streets.
Chief Moriarty, who went out to see ths
damage, says that the mast is total
wreck. 1t was reduced to kindling wood,
and nothing resembling q tall pole with
electric lights at the top, is left of it.
The chief also spoke OF the effect OF the
lightning on the fire alarm system. He
said that he could see the electricity
playing about the switchboard in his
office, and it looked very peculiar. There
was but one slarm-box disarranged,
during the storm. 1t WAS the alarm al
the electric power house. The system
was in perfect order by II O'Clock.
AT THE POWER HOUSE.
Two bolts which found their way
along the wires and into the Electric
road power house were most severe.
Manager Clark Gays that had it not been
for the lightning arrestors put in they
would have caused great damage and
undoubtedly burned out their dynamos.
When the power house was built it was
an open question il it was advisable tc
put in arreetors, but in order to take nc
chances they were put in finally. The
wisdom was well repaid yesterday. The
power was shut down but half an hour.
AN ELECTRIC CAR STRUCK.
Oar No. l of the electric line received
a shock from the electrical discharge
while standing near the depot. The
trolly pole was broken by tho shock
and when the inmates of the car found
that lightning had struck the car there
was no time lost in getting out of it
The shock to the car was not severe
enough to shake anyone up, and mus
have travelled along the wire for some
distance. Enough damage was done to
the car to cause it to be sent to the shoI
for repairs.
WESTERN UNION.
The Western Union company had con
siderable trouble with its telegraph lines
One bolt of lightning got possession o
its wires and ran into the operatins
demorslized things generally for a short
while, but affairs were finally adjusted
The wires out of the city were somewhat
damaged, but 1t was more by wind than
by lightning.
HOUSE BLOWN DOWN.
The lightning did not do all the dam
age of this very remarkable storm. fol
the high wind, which acted as an accom-
paniment, demolished u small cottage
on Boyle Heights. Ellis Georges lives
in three-room cottage, on Stevenson
avenue, near the Catholic Or
phan asylum. When the storm
came up yesterday morning Mrs.
Georgess was in the house alone
with her three children, and almost
without warning the storm swept down
upon them. With crash the rooi
was lifted and blown for some little dis
tance. Following the roof went the
sides of the building. and all that re.
manned was the floor and the kitchen.
1t WAS q clean wreck, and most wonder.
full of all no one was injured, save the
few scratches received by Mrs. Georges
from the flying debris. Help was soon
at hand, and the family was cared for
by the neighbors. The house was
small, the walls being only single
boards. While severe, the wind wac
not strong enough to blow down q
building of any considerable size OF
strength.
Just before the storm the temperature
was 70 degrees; Immediately afterward
it was 81. showing that there had been a
very considerable rise. The highest
temperature yesterday was So degrees.
At y. M, according to Signal Observer
Franklin, it was 94. The rain fell in the
city amounted .0l of an inch and at
Pasadena to 20 OF an inch.
The atorm came from the mountains
this side of San Bernardino. 1t seemed,