The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-24
FIRED BY LIGHTNING.
a BLAZE ~ THE BROAD-SrREEi
METHODIST CHURCH sTEEPLE.
Discovered in Time to Prevent Dissss
trous Fire-Prompt Work byi Departs
ment-Dsmags Light-Insursnee.

Lightning Is supposed to have been the
cause OF a IRE in the tall steeple OF the
Broad-Strcet Methodist church last even
ing the small damage trom Whch was
wholly due to the prompt service Oh .hS
department. Had IL been discovered halA
an hour later wnen the streets mad De
come clearer OF pedestrians the piaze' 10
a certainty would have resulted seriously.
DISCOVERED THE BLAZE.
Mr., j. NJ. Arseils was passing the
church after attending an Epworth League
meeting. The meeting had broken up
about b o'clock. but Mr.. Arsells, being an
officer OF the church, was delayed unth
after 10 o'clock in taking his leave.
lie saw smoke issuing from one OF the
latticed windows of the tower, and shortly
afterward a tiny tongue OF flame worAeu
its way up the inside Of the steeple.
IL was but a moments work Tor MT;
Arseil 10 run To engine house NO. ana
notify the firemen. who investigated anu
although at first they could discover III
blaze. when they did see smoke coming
from tha church were prompt enough ia
their action.
SLIGHT DAMAGE.
No chemical was the first on inc spot
after an alarm from box ia from the s.a.
ton was rung in. Engines Nos ana :
No. I truck quickly followed, ana the
nremen lost no time In ping up INC
LADDERS on TO the stceple with thelr nose
lines.
The chemical hose lines were run
through the inside of the church 10 the
seat OF the fire and did important service
in extinguishing the blaze.
The damage done was slight not over
500. and fully insured The church car
res about $1,000 insurance in the Nlr-
ginia Mutual and the Virginia state IN
surance Companies.
LITTLE DAMAGE.
The thunder storm last night between Z
L.
very little damage was reported m the
city. The storm commenced about 80
o'clock and lasted nearly an hour. Duding
that time there was a heavy rainfall ana
a brilliant electrical display.
Sharp and loud thunder-claps followed
closely one upon another ana al times IL
seemed very much as If lightning had
struck various points i'm tho city. \ tri-
vial damage was done in the Fire-Alarm
office. but was repaired I'm few minutes.
This was caused by the burning out OF
some fuses
A cross circuit about tho neighborhood
Of Fourteenth and Main streets was pro-
duced on the Western Union Telegraph
lines. but this did not delay the Work
of transmitting messages.
So far as could be learned no wires or
poles were blown down in the city eX-
'cept two wires north and two south on
the lines of the Western Union Telegraph
Company These caused no material IN
convenience.
PLAYED RPANKS.
While the storm was at its height the
lightning played pranks over the switch
board at the Western Union office with
out creating any damage.
Nobody was hurt by tho storm. So
heavy was the rain that piles or sand
washed from the streets and accumulated
along the curbings. Some of the streets
got a much needed bath.
Lightning delayed some NJ tho street
cars about half an hour during the storm
last evening by grounding the current.
trolley wire over the Fifth-Street bridge
ground.