The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-04

ming about 945 o'clock and totally de-
stroyed by fire. AS soon as the bolt of
lightning struck, Mr.. Davidson and his
son, George Davidson, rushed from the
house, which adjoined the barn, and
saw the flames leaping from the roof.
Mr.. Davidson turned in the alarm at
Leicester, and steamer l responded.
The barn contained 100 tons of hay and
II head of cattle, and while Mr.. David
son was ringing in the alarm his son
tried to get the cattle out of the burn
ing building.
BY the time steamer l arrived the
stock were all out of the barn. line
of hose was laid to the nearest hydrant,
which was 1900 feet away, and the enOr
nous pressure burst the line. For a
few moments all was excitement. and
after considerable delay another stream
was laid The barn had been burned
TO the ground in the meantime, and the
second line of hose was utilized to save
the Davidson homestead, which the
firemen succeeded in doing. The burn
ing barn attracted a large crowd,
which did everything possible to help
the fire ladies.
The barn was erected about four
years ago by Mr.. Davidson, and is in
sured through the agency Of John R.
Nichols of Greenville for $500. The loss
is estimated by Mr.. Davidson at about
$780, including the hay and farming
implements which were stored in the
building
Another fire in the town of Auburn
was caused by lightning, and did some
damage.
The flames from the burning struc-
ture lit up the sky and could be seen
f,,1x ri n North Cha
ton, about two miles from Charlton De-
pot, a fire was reported started by the
lightning A third fire was reported
from Paxton.
The most disastrous thunder storm
of the season struck Millbury. The
lightning that accompanied the storm
was something terrific, and paved hav-
oc with the electric car lines and the
telephones, all of which were knocked
out of business.
A large barn, 40x75 feet, owned by
Charles Stockwell of West Millbury,
was struck by the lightning and burned
to the ground The lightning entered
the south end corner of the barn and
ran down into the hay, Immediately
setting it ablaze.
In the barn were IA head of cattle,
two horses and farm implements and
carriages. The carriages were saved,
but the remainder, cows, horses and
farm implements were burned.
The fire started at 945 o'clock, and
an alarm was rung in. and steamer No.
and tub No. 8 responded, but owing
to the lack of water, the firemen and
neighbors, who gathered around, were
forced to watch the barn burn up until
nothing remained but heap of smol-
dering ashes. Mr.. Stockwell was seen
by The Spy man, and said his loss
would amount to $4,000, partially COW
cred by insurance in the agency of Ira
N Goddard of Millbury, and John d.
Washburn. Willis & Greene agency in
Worcester.
Mr. Stockwell had also his crop of
hay in the barn, which amounted to
60 tons and this was all burned,
A house owned by Richard Murphy
in West NIillhury was also struck by
lightning. The lightning entered
through the chimney and ran through
the house, damaging it to the extent
of $50.
wood. was struck by bolt OF the merry
element. The bolt entered under the
caves and passed into a bedroom in
tha second floor, in which were Miss
1da HAYWOOD and a friend. The bolt
struck a picture on the wall, ran across
mantei. clearing all the ornaments
off and then struck an electric bell, and
nassad out of the house. The occu-
pents of the room were greatly frighe-
ened, but soon recovered from the
MANY of the older residents in the
town seen by The Spy man say the
storm is the worst that has struck TINS
place in years ,.4o ona
Several cars on the worcester anu anu
Suburban had controllers ana motors
E1ires were reported in Southbridge
and Southboro last night, but 1t was
imnossible to get connection with either
inWn.