The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-08-31
FROM THE BRIDGES
LIGHTNING STRIKES THE
NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Resultant Damage Being About
9lOO-Prof. Mills Return to b
Bridges-Prepa ralions for the Fair
Personal md General Mention.

TWIN BRIDGES, Aug. 29.-[Special
Correspondence. - Sunday morning
about eight o'clock, a small cloud how
eted over our town and gave vent to it's
electrical storage by using the Normal
building as a conductor. The stroke
struck just back of the belfry tower
neal the deck. The lightning then
followed the rafter to the west side of
the entrance. Here it came in contact
with a 2X6 studding which it cut off
with apparent ease. 1t then passed
down on the inside to the door at the
west side of the second stair building.
The door casing. transom, and all that
was "a were torn to slivers. A piece
of the casing was thrown across the
hall and driven through the wall.
From the door, the lightning must
have followed a studding to the ground
although no signs remain to mark it's
course. Another branch came down
to the chimney to the pipe holes in
the rooms below. Here it divided. A
part came through the chimney to the
ceiling of the lower room, removed
several yards of plaster, went through
the wall at the first ~stair-landing and
removed several yards more plaster.
The other part left the chimney at the
other opening and followed the pipe to
the stove and floor. At the stove it
again divided and part went through
the floor in front of the stove, while
the rest went to the real of the stove
and down. It was a terrible stroke.
In several places the wood is scorched
almost black, yet the building did not
burn. 1t will cost about 800 to repair
the damage.
Mrs. E. L. Smith. of Virginia City,
has the lease of the boarding hall at
the fair grounds.
John Seyler left the first of the week
for Fergus county to look after his
stock interests. He says Jim runs the
ranch while father is absent, but the
boys postage bills, ETC., are reducing
tho net revenue.
T. A. Wickes is again in our midst.
Frank Hobert and Chas. Cline are in
Butte getting rid of their summers
wages. 1t is reported that they walk
ed from here to Whitehall during the
night. Why, we cannot say.
Miss Edith Mills and Miss Clara
Thomas, of Sheridan, were visiting
Mr.. and Mrs. Birchard Monday and
Tuesday.
Judge Showers and his s~tenographel
passed through town Tuesday, en- route
for Boulder.
C. w. Birchard and son George, Wis
tied the Broadway mine and Silver
Star early in the week.
Mr.. Blinn, father of the boys VIII
have been running the mill, came GU
from Chicago last week to see how
affairs were running here.
Edwin Norris, the legal luminary o
Beaverhead's metropolis, was in tow
Tuesday.
L. j. Hamilton, Butte City Attorney
passed through town Tuesday from
Virginia City where he had lega
business.
Rev. George Comfort attended tn
M. Z. Conference at Helena last week
We understand that Miss Kincaid
who has been one of the nurses at tn
Home, will resign her position on tn
list. of September and, after the fai,
will return east.
Mrs. Jas. M. Page and family, exceI
Grandma and Miss Nellie, left Thurs
day for their new home in Helen:
They have rented a furnished hous
and will leave thir furniture at tn
"ranch." The two remaining vii
20 in about a month.