The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-13

Lafayette School, Set Fire to the
COIOnnade, Struck the New Fed
eraI BuiIding-severaI Easements
Were Flooded and Sidewalks
Blown Over-HOrses Killed
For two hours last evening st. Paul
was at the mercy of the rain. a storm
as nearly approaching a deluge in char
acter as any in the city's history de-
scended on it at ESQ p. m, and it rained
in torrents necessarily until 7:30.
Considering the severity Of the rain
the wind was less than the usual con-
comitant of such events, and the light
ming did not appear violent until the
storm had passed over.
Indeed, it was nearly through, and
while the roof of the Colonnade apart
ment house was struck by an electric
bolt while 1t was still stormirg the sun
was shining ere the last piece of fire ap-
paratus had responded to the summons
from the hotel
Locally considerable damage was done
by the running SUI face water in minia-
ture rivers in the streets and elsewhere,
the sewers being inadequate to carry off
the almost unprecedented flood of water
in certain districts. Easements were
flooded, sidewalks undermined, sidewalks
and fences dislodged, trees torn by wind
and lightning, and minor damage of va
rious sorts was suffered in various parts
of the city.
Travel was at e standstill. The street
railway company was put to a great
deal Of inconvenience during the later
portions of the storm, by the loOsening
of the trolley wires from their supports,
in many cases resulting in blockadcs,
and the driving rain coming just as 1t
did at supper time made unwilling pris-
oners of the mass of the city's working
population.
No disasters to life or limb bad been
reported up 10 late hour last night
from the immediate vicinity of st. Paul,
which seems to have been little to one
side of the center of the path of the
storm in it's passage, from the plateau
of the Northwest to the lake region.
Saltwater suffered more severely, judging
from reports, and Hudson likewise, while
the storm was at its worst in this. lati-
tude 1T New Richmond, forty miles east
in Wisconsin.
z54r FIRE AT THE COLONNADE. -
Considerable excitement was created at
the Colonnade apartment house, Tenth
and st. Peter street, after the storm of
last evening by the discovery that the
building was on fire. 1t was some time
before the blaze could be located; mean
time the big building filed with smoke
and the occupants began hurryfng out
with whatever articles of their effects
could be hastily carried down stairs The
fire department was summoned and To-
Gated the fire on the top floor, in the
apartments occupied by j. Ward. It was
smoldering between the rafters of the
ceiling and had evidently been slowly
burning for some time, as a large area
of rafters was burned and blackened
The blaze crept through the walls to the
apartments of Manager J. E. Geldreich.
adjoining the Ward apartments, but was
checked from further progress by the
department. The damage to the build
Ing will amount to $3.50. The building Is
insured.
The fire is believed to have been caused
by the pranks of lightning among the
mesh of wires strung across the roof of
the building.
ESCAPE FROM ELECTROCUTION.
County Surveyor Gates A. johnson Jr.
and several companions had a narrow es-
cape from electrocution by a live wire
on Rice street. near the Great Northern
bridge, during the storm. The team of
horses Mr.. Johnson was driving ran into
the wire and were instantly killed The
sudden stopping of the vehicle when the
horses dropped dead kept the occupants
from the wire.
The accident happened while the storm
I,.gn-
rying to town from some surveying work
he had been doing out on the Rice street
road. telephone wire had been blown
down by the wind, and, stretching across
the street, four feet from the ground,
lay across the street car trolley wires,
thus being charged with the full voltage
of the car system. No one saw the wire
In the binding rain, and theshorses were
driven against it. 1t struck the animals
across their heads and both dropped
as though shot. An investigation showed
the cause of the horses death, and the
wire was quickly removed from it's dan
gerous position. The team was valued at
$3.50
The residence Of Patrolman Forester,
of the central detail, 10 East Tenth
street, was struck by lightning during
the height of the storm. The bolt
struck the kitchen chimney. which was
thrown down. and tore out a large sec
IlOn Oh the IOOI dSSlHS uOWH the walls
Of the house, it flashed through the din
Ing room, where Mrs Forester and her
daughter were sitting. Both Mrs. For
rester and the child received a severe
electric shock, but were not seriously in
jured The bolt passed from the dining
room to the cellar and grounded.
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL STRUCK.
The Lafayette school, Kentucky street.
near Fenton, was considerably damaged
by lightning. Lightning struck the flag
pole and shot down into the building,
tearing off quite a section of the roof
and somewhat damaging the building in
side. The damage will amount to S225.
Temporary repairs have already been
made, so that sessions will be held to-
day as usual
WATER IN GOLDEN RULE.
A washout In the street at Robert and
Eighth streets resulted in the cellar of
the Golden Rules new Robert street an
Dex being flooded with eight inches of
water. This part of the basement is
used as store room, and the contents
We're considerably damaged. There is a
quantity of SOAP linen and hardware in
this part of the building, which will be
damaged, perhaps, to the extent of sew
ernl hundred dollars. Water also got in
to the main basement used as a sales