Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-15
A GLORIOUS SHOWER,
Augusta Refreshed by Heavy Rain,
Wednesday Afternoon.
G. W. Cartoons Barn Wrecked, and Lightning
Strikes in Several Places.

1t was glorious shower and il has
saved the farmers an ocean of worry
| for at least three or four days. Some
people called it a storm, as it was the
nearest approach to IL that this part of
the sphere has had in many weeks. II
would have ordinarily been called a
| right smart shower" but coming as ii
did when it was 50 needed, it was
| worthy of a better name. 1t did dol
lars and dollars worth of good in the
way of refreshing the fainting crops
| and grass. and also in the way of re-
viving poor suffering humanity, which
had been sweltering all day.
To the insurance companies it did a
little damage. but it helped them in
other ways by giving them increased
business. as it doubtless will, for the
| lightning struck in several places and
the tornado blew down a large barn on
Cushnoc Heights.
| The day had been hot, oppressively
hot The thermometers all over the
city had been sizzling up to the 95 mark
and people were melting collars and
patience faster than a laundry could
think of doing up either article. Along
| toward noon when the pedestrians who
had to walk in the sun were gasping
8
their eyes toward the western heavens
and solemnly declared that they saw
thunder caps.
Ills an optical delusion, a mirage"
replied the skeptcs, but the others
merely wagged their heads and kept on
gaSping for more air, and looking west
ward.
1t came The great, dark clouds be-
gan gathering soon after the people
had swallowed their dinners and had
returned to their duties. The threat
ening black peaks rolled toward Au-
gusta, and everyone was smiling, for.
thunder shower though ii be, they We're
pleased to see it, wind and all.
Gradually the rain drops began to
patter upon the parched earth and then
they came down by battalons and by
regiments. until the divisions and corps
of the bits of moisture We're as plenty
as the single drops had been.
Oh. wasn't it a glorious time. when
at . O'Clock it was pouring as though
the flood gates of Moosehead lake had
their shirt sleeves stood where some of
the spray could reach them and win
dows We're closed only on the side of
the buildings where the rain beat in
the worst. The shower lasted for 20
minutes or more and then gradually
subsidized and the sky again cleared,
though it was not again so hot. The
particles Of dry heat had been washed
from the air by the rain and there was
something fit to breath Then there
was a little breeze that followed, that
was worth its weight in copper.
The people who had lawns drying,
and gardens parching in the hot sun
were more than jublant. The farmer
who came to the city after all was
over. declared it had done thousands of
dollars worth of good.
on the other hand it did little dam
age. The force of the storm seemed to
go over Cushnoc Heights and across to
Bolton hill.
The first disaster caused was not by
the lightning, but was by the terrific
tornado that seemed to strike Cushnoc
Heights and then expend it's power in
lifting the barn of G. W. Carlton from
it's fastenngs and underpinning. and
carrying it bodily into the field.
This barn is the one on the old
Spraeue farm and was 10S feet long by
40 feet broad. 1t was in the hands OF
the reparers who were putting new
sills under it, and were shingling it.
The wind took 1t from us Iounuatioii
and tipped it over, completely demolish-
ing it. There was yoke of oxen and
horse in the basement. but they were
in no manner injured by the episode.
This barn was insured in Downing's
agency, having a $1,000 tornado policy,
so there will be little real loss to Mr..
Carleton.
A chimney on the house near the
barn was blown down, intlicting some
damage to the piazza
The first place to be struck by light
ming it is supposed, was the house OF
Frank White on the Bangor road, not
a great distance from Pettingill's Cor
ner Mr.. White has a story and halt
house and it was here that the bolt
played the pranks. 1t entered the