Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-06-04
WHOLE NO. 25O3
LIGHTNING's TERRIBLE FREAKS
buildings Fired and the Department Ont
IA Big Barn Bnrned Down in Stow
Creek---Serious Trouble at the
Traction Car Barn,

IA Big Barn Bnrned Down in Stow
Creek---Serious Trouble at the
Traction Car Barn.
Probably the most severe and terrifying
thunder storm that ever passed over this
section, swept down here Thursday after
noon about half past four O'Clock. 1t de-
iuged the town and surrounding country,
while the lightning played fantastic,
terrifying tricks and did vast amount
of damage
Inc storm came from the southwest and
was furious; the rain fell in binding
sheets, the lightning was constantly play
ing, while the roll and peal of the thunder
was like din OF a heavy battery.
Its difficult to tell of the damage done,
from all over the county comes the re-
ports of the damage which has been done
by the mysterious elements.
Lightning struck the barns on William
Q. Garrison's farm, near Roadstown, set
ting them on fire. Two barns and the
wagon house were entirely consumed.
John Garrison lives on the farm. The
hired man and Mr.. Garrison's son were
IN the barn at the time it was struck. but
they escaped without injury, excepting
slight shock. They succeeded in getting
all the live stock out the barns except a
calf, which perished in the flames. ALI
the hay in the barns was consumed by
the fiery element. The rain, which came
down in torrents, did not seem to have
any effect on the burning building.
When the lightning struck the barn Of
milkman Woodruff his boy was in it
attending the stock. The boy was
knocked senseless from the shock, but
recovered. A horse in the barn was par
alyzed and is still in precarious eondi-
ton.
Arthur Scull, living on South avenue,
received flash of lightning. His clothes
were torn from one side of him and he
was scorched on one of his legs, besides
receiving good shaking up.
The electric fluid ran around lively
over the pipes in the pipe mill of the
Cumberland Nail & Iron Company's
Works. Running along gas pipe in the
building the lightning found leak in the
pipe. This soon ignited and a big blaze
was the result. Chief Elwel ran to the
metre and turned off the gas and then put
out the fire.
| Lightning struck VIM. Andres bakery
and residence, corner of Laurel street and
Irving Ave-, and tore off the corner of the
dome, setting fire to the building. An
alarm was turned in and the Department
responded, but no stream was put on.
When the lightning struck the building
Henry Barth was standing in his father's
butcher shop door. He describes it as
flash of fire, and instantly coming out of
the building was cloud which resembled
coal ashes.
The Traction Company was target for
the lightning's freaks. The car barn was
fired by bolt, but prompt work by the
employees put it out. The power house
was struck several times, and some dam
age done to the machinery. One of the
trolley cars on the line was struck nine
teen times, but no damage was done.
Three cars had motors burned out.
The house of Jacob Pffaeff1e, on Acad-
emy ST., was struck by two bolts, and the
damage was considerable. A lady in the
house was seriously shocked.
The Acme Gas Fixture Works was
struck and damaged slightly. A young
man in the building was severely shock
ed by the bolt, but not dangerously in
jured.
The barn of Charles Woodruff, milk
man, on Cottage avenue, was struck and
the roof pretty nearly torn off, damaging
it considerably.
was struck.
On Elizabeth street there was terror
among the inhabitants, when the light
Mig struck large willow tree, splinter
ing it badly.
Lightning struck the Wesley Memorial
Church, out Pearl street, and splintered
the roof pretty badly, running off the
side into the ground.
A house owned by Mr.. Frederick, on
Academy street, was struck and slightly
damaged.
A horse and mule hitched together
stood on Broad street during the shower.
A bolt of lightning came down the street,
and the shock of it knocked down the
mule, but never harmed the horse. The
mule soon recovered.
An unusual scene was witnessed in the
Cohansey creek yesterday during the
storm. The tide would run up awhile
and then turn and run down, changing
every few minutes. 1t raised foot in
five minutes at two different times.