New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-08
LIGHTNING AND DEATH.
VIOLENT ELECTRICAL STORMS IN THE
CITY AND ITS VICINITY
ONE MAN KILLED AND ANOTHER STUNNED on
LONG IsLAND-rHE PRIsCILLAs MAINMAsT
HIT-DAMAGE IN NEw-JERsEY-
A HEAVY RAINFALL

HEAVY RAINFALL
The city was visited by two violent thunder
showers yesterday, which were almost record
breakers in the matter of rainfall. we'll in
the violence and frequency Of the lightning and
thunder The first storm broke over the city
shortly before a. m and in less than half an
hour nearly an inch Of rain recorded The
lightning which was almost incessant, is re-
ported to have struck il a number Of places in
this city and vicinity. Hardly had the water
been dried from the pavements and gut
ters by the brilliant sun, which showed itself
Immediately after the storm. when a second
and hardly less violent storm burst over the
sweltering city. The second storm was between
103o and II m. and in that time about one
fifth OF an inch OF rain fell The rain and storm
only cleared the atmosphere for a brief time. for
the sun soon got to work again and the mercury
crawled up fast In the tubes. To add to the dis
comfture OF the ong-suffering public, the hu-
midity decided to take rise. and at a. m. was
quoted at 96 while at 3 p. m. 1t was still strug-
Cling along at S5 degrees. On the streets pedes-
trians were busy moppng their faces. while
they vainly sought coolness on the shady sides
OF the streets. The results Of the combination Of
heat and humidity have hardly been equaled
this summer.
The official Thermometer at a. m yesterday
registered Is degrees. at noon rs degrees and at
p. m. & degrees The forecast for to-day Is
fair weather and slightly cooler as far as the
thermometer is concerned. although no prom
ises made in regard to the humidity.
THE PRIsCILLAS MAINTOPMAST SHAT
TERED.
The handsome Sound steamer the Priscilla, OF
the Fall River Line was struck by lightning early
yesterday morning as she was coming into her
pier but by a fortunate freak Of the electric
bolt the passengers escaped injury. The rain
was falling In sheets. the thunder rolled and the
lightning flashed the big boat rounded the
end OF the American Line pier. Just as she
pointed her nose into her own berth there was
binding flash Of lightning and a report that
sounded like that Of a cannon. and the steamer
was slightly Jared from stem to stern. The boit
had struck the main topmast. which was OF wood
and attached to the steel mainmast and had
shattered 1t from top TO heel. Seemingly when
the bolt had reached the steel mast it had
flashed off in all directions. which was extremely
fortunate for both passengers and boat for II
the lightning had gone down the mainmast 1t
would have undoubtedly struck in the main
saloon and killed or injured passengers ana per-
haps set fire to the ship.
There was no excitement on board the vessel
as few of the passengers knew what narrow
escape they had. Superintendent Taylor, OF the
Fall River Line. made an examination or the
damage and said that beyond the shattered top
mast little injury had been caused When the
Priscilla sailed last night she lacked one OF her
CHEF flags for the shattered topnast had been
removed and only the blunt mainrnast remained
The Priscilla is the newest, largest and nand,
somest of the Fall River Lines fleet OF Sound
steamers.
During the storm the two-story frame house
at the corner Of Fifth-st. and Avenue ID, union
nort occunied by J. b. Crosby and his family.
was struck by lightning shortly after O'Clock
No one was hurt, but damage of 500 was done
AIIld linz