The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-22
PL AYED QUEER FRANKS
Freaks of the Electrical Storm of
Thursday Night.
STRUCK LIGHTING PLANT
Burned Out Two Electric Machines
Made Firewood of Trees and Ripped
Paper. OF the Wall in
Deer Lodge House.

That brilliant display Of lightning
Thursday night played all kinds of
queer pranks about the county. Not
only was 1t the greatest electrical
storm on record In this part of the
state, but it was also the most mis-
chievous.
The chief damage in Anaconda was
the burning out of two machines at the
lighting works, thus causing a consid-
cradle portion of the city to be in dark
ness.
At Deer Lodge 1t called at the resi-
dence of Miss Bette c. Williams, tore
the paper from the walls and knocked
Miss Williams unconscious.
1t visited the home of A. NJ. Walker,
chairman of the board of county COM
missioners, two miles east of the city,
split large fir tree into cord wood
lengths and rolled Mr.. Walker out of
his bed.
Perhaps the strangest of all the stor-
les told is that reported by Oscar Pet
| erson, a wood-chopper, whose camp is
five miles southwest of the city. "A
few rods from my cabin" said he, yes
terday, was a tall fir tree almost bare
of branches save at the top. 1t was
about 80 feet tall, l should think l
had intended to cut it down to-day l
was awakened by the storm and rush
ing to my door | saw bolt of light
ming, brilliant ball of fire. strike this
tree and shiver it seemingly to atoms.
Then came terrific wind storm and
took refuge in my cabin. This morning
! went to examine the tree. stump
perhaps Is feet tall, had been left
standing. Its top was cut off almost
as smoothly as if sawn, while the re-
naming Is feet had been broken into
1S-inch lengths, each length split six
times, the branches thrown TO one side
and all this split wood piled up ir
mound, just such one as wood
chopper throws the wood into when lie
is splitting. There were about two
cords of the wood, should judge. I'm
going to bring it in town to sell to-
morrow and I'll show it to you then"
Commissioner Walker related his ex-
perence as follows: THE bolt that
struck the tree at my place was a ter
rife one. 1t shook the ground and
ratified my house. although the tree
was fully 200 yards away. So severe
was the shock that 1 was thrown cut
of my bed, but not injured. The wee
was a large fir and was completely
shattered"
The wind that followed the first dis
play of the electric storm was almost
a strong cyclone. 1t swept down the
valley at a high rate of speed, carry
ing with it a cloud of dust that was
well scattered and driven into every
house into which it could find ar op-
ening.
portion of the high fence sur
rounding the race track was blown
down and other minor damage was
done.
The heavy rain had a lem oralizing
effect on the forest fire, southwest CT
the city, but was not sufficient to
drown 1t out entirely. 1t is still
smouldering, sending up a little smoke.
The effect of the storm at Deer Lodge
is told in the following special dis
patch:
Deer Lodge, July 21.--A severe storm
of thunder and lightning, accompanied
by rain and hail, came upon this town
at about 80 o'clock last night. TIE
lightning was most vivid, and there
was a continuous roar of ,.'iunle
which shook the buildings until they
trembled as If shaken by an earth
quake. During the storm the home,
in West Deer Lodge, of Miss Bette
father, Uncle Jimmy Williams, was
struck by a bolt of lightning which
did considerable damage to the furni-
ture, breaking large mirror into
thousand pieces. tearing great holes
in the plaster and literally ripping
the paper from the walls.
Miss Williams was rendered unct r.
scious for time by the shock but IVES
not seriously injured. Mr.. Williams,
who occupied an adjacent re I'M. was
not in the least molested.
The lightning also struck a large
shade tree in front of the City hotel
and broke a big limb from it. l. Was
one OF the most brilliant displays of
lightning that has been SEEN N TINS
section during the present summer,
and was undoubtedly due to The rast
week of exceedingly hot, dr. weather.
Child Euioys