The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-22
Capt. Doughty's Raru Struck and
Burned.
Captain of the Enita
Gets Shock.
Bolt Also Visits House on
Eastern Promenade.

At an early hour Friday the city was
visited by the most pronounced thunder
storm OF thhe season ana the center OF the
electrical disturbances seems to have been
10 the Vicinity OF Long Island. Black
clouds rolled over the city about seven
O'Clock and soon afterwards the storm
reached from Stroudwater 60 Casco buy.
There was but little rain in the city but
north and east and In the Deering district
IL rained copiously. At Hon. e. b.
winslow's residence on Ocean street,
there was q smart shower but Mt the pot
terry, Deering Point. no rain at all.
During the progress of the storm the
lightning played many pranks and about
7S0 one bolt left the heavens and as 1t
reached land and sea seemed to divide
into five distinct forks affording thrill.
ing pyrotechnical display of Mariners
landing, Long island. The Harpswell
steamer Sebasoodegan was on her way to
The city at about the time and the water
all AROUND the steamer was alive with
tongues of flame leaping and reaching in
every direction.
AT LONG ISLAND.
As the bolt divided one-fork took q
zig gag course ami struck the roof of q
stable owned hy Warren A. Doughty
about midway down Long island and
situated In the old cove not far from
Mariners laDding. The captain OF the
and noting the havoc which 1t was GREAT
ing, blew his alarm whistle which
aroused the islanders. Thu lightning
lifted a beard from the corner of Capt.
Doughty's barn and 1t landed on the
porch Of the house. It was not long at
forwards when fire broke out on the roof
and the building was all abIaze. A
corwd soon gathered and with buckets.
etc., began to fight the fire. 1t was soon
discovered that all attempts to save the
barn would be useless SO after getting out
6 or horses and a carriage the islanders
joined by the police officers set to work
to save the house by covering it with
blankets which were kept wet. Their
efforts were successful but 1t was hard
fight.
The loss to Capt. Doughty by the
destruction of the barn win aggregate
$500 or $500. 1t contained ut the time OF
the fire wood, coal. hay and lot Of
rigging, etc. He Ia insured for sl0G.
THE STEAMER EMITA.
just about the timo the fork Of light
ming descended on Capt. Doughty's barn
the steamer Emita was in Diamond cove
and Captain Prout because Of the vivid
flashes thought 10 might be well to stop.
He grasped the handle of the bell when
he got shock which made hfs arp numb
just as II 1t had been put to sleep. He was
unable to manage the boat and had to
give up his place to one OF his a ssistants
When he reached Custom House wharf
he obtained the services of a physician,
who recommended constant rubbing and
thought the arm would soon be all right
again.
Conductor Emery of the Stroudwater
line Of cars had similar experience.
He reached up to take hold of the bell
rope and got q severe shock in the arm,
which was partially paraIyzed for time.
OTHER INCIDENTS.
Captain Roscoe s. Davis's stable, No.
90 Vepser street, was struck by lightning,
but WAS not set ON fire, though the holt
came down into corner of the building
which was piled full of hay. Ths man
employed at the stable had been washing
a carriage and was sitting between the
shafts when the lightning struck. He
was considerably dazed but was not hurt
The shafts Of the carriage were thrown
against him with some violence. A loose
board In the doorway of the stable was
thrown over into the next yard. A lady
near by was looking out Of the window
directly at the stable at the time. She
was affected by the electricity and
thought the bolt had struck her. In fact
the lightning alarmed the whole neigh
borhood and everybody In the vicinity
was considerable stirred up.
At NJ. q. NJ. DOMAINS house on Yes
per street there was a oommotion for q
time. A ball Of fire appeared TO come into
the house and 1t exploded with loud
noise. The ball seemed to come into SOW
ersl rooms at the game time. A young
lady in chamber was thrown to the
floor and there was more or less doubt
for while as to whether the house had
been struck or not.
On Washington street horse was
thrown down but yegAined his feet with
out suffering serious Injury. At the same
place fruit stand was knocked over
and the fruit was scattered In all direo-
tion.
Out In Falmouth and Cumberland the
shower was very eevere. Near the sum-
mer residence OF City Messenger Mao
gowap the lightning struck tree and
shiyefed itto pieces. Another bolt struok
q rock In . heighhcring tielA
From Mg: Macgowan's place II was seen