The Portland daily press., 1899-07-24
Buildings Burned BY the Sssre All
Over the State
Many Cattle Killed and
People Injured.
Thrilling Experiences Wildly
Related.


All day Saturday reports were coming
into the newspaper offices of the damage
by the electric storms Of Friday. Nearly
all sections Of the state were swept by
these disturbances and the loss is very
large. Barns were destroyed by the score
and many dwelling houses were burned
20 the ground. The loss to live stock and
horses was considerable. but so far as the
reports show no perssn was killed by
lightning. sam the storms were not IN
the loss CT human life,
for at Liteh.ield, TIE wife of Mr.. Everett
Pinkham was overcome by fright and ex-
pired during the fire which destroyed
their hume. 10 would be difficult to es-
innate the money less. One report puts
1t ut ten thousand dollars In Knox coun-
ty alone, and tho loss elsewhere was ex-
tsnsfve. The henviess money loss was
probably that Of the Kuicksrboek Toe
company whose fins storehouses near
Richmond were burned. They contained
Geo tons OF ice, and tho loss will he
$50, 600
OF course the lightning played the
usual pranks. Taks for instance the ex-
perience of Mira. Fired Richardson of
Strong. She was mixing dough In % dish
which aha held In one hand. The light
ming took the diah ard smashed 10 into
fragments. Mrs. Relaxation was pros
trntea bnt not SERIOUSLY hurt.
Perhaps the people who lad the most
thrilling experiences were the summer
travellers who were on small steam boats
when the storms STRUCK them. It was
an exciting trip which the steamer ISL
ander made up the Kennshec. Lightning
struck repeatedly all araund the boat and
the passengers saw on the shore the Hight
Lof burning buildings and the fall Of
stricken traes. One cnlt was killed in
plain view Of those on TIE steamsr. It Is
mo- wonder thai the exritemsnt was too
much for some Of the passengers who are
said TO have tainted.
AROUND PORTLAND.
The storms in the vicinity of Portland
were about as severe as they were any
where and the people who came.in from
tina surrounding country Saturday had
many tales of ex sissnent to tell.
Harpswell had day or storms.
a PRESS correspondent writes:
"a series Of heavy showers parsed over
this place Friday BEGINNING at 7.3O a. M.
and lasting until noen. aud starting In
again at a.so p. M, lasting until mid
night. During the first shower. MIR. Free
man Rieh's house was badly shattered.
although there was no TIRE and no ia
talities. A bolt struck both ohimneys,
completely running one, kuoeked the
staircase in the hall to pieces and doing
other damage. A tree near Hugh Dough-
tvs house Was struck and the Princes
Point mall box was torn down. Andrew
Getchelfs earn, on the west side Of the ISL
and, was destroyed by lightning
This house and stable of William Moul-
ton of Scarboro were struck and set on
ire. TIE stable contained considerable
hay and stock. but the animals were all
got out and alive. John MouIten, u
brother to William. WAS kicked In the leg
by horse, but will recover without per-
manens injury. The house and stable
wers excellent buildings and we're valued
at fully $4,000. There is y partial insur-
anus c<AttA w bc asSubf WLtGl VI tOuTt6
will not cover the loss.
The buildings of Charles w. Fcgg were
also struck, but Mr.. Fogg. with the help
of neighhors, succeeded In cxtinguishing
the flames before they had done much
damage.
At Long Island zig-zag bolt struck
the roof OF Howard Woodbury's house.
This was about IL o'clock at night and
several people vera quits badly SHOCKED.
s.. .fx..x =
and 1T was apparent that nothing could
save the house, SO this occupants devoted
their energies to removing the furniture
which was nearly all saved. The house
burned fiat to the ground inside OF an
hour. 1t Is understood that Mr.. Wood
bury carried " 400 Insurance..
On CHI Island the only damage report
ed IS the death OF Is chickens belonging
| to Mrs. Cobb.
| from Cundy's Harbor. her crew reported
that the Scotield house was struck by
lightning and knocked completely to
pieces The ruins did not burn, but the
house was practically demolished. Ii was
| a house of about 10 rooms and well known
Cundy's harhex. Ii was owned by Capt.
Humphreys.
| Capt. Taylor of the Madelsine says he
saw flames all around. but could nat To-
cate them. While going up the Harra-
seekit river to Breeport Friday morning,
he ran into a very severe storm. The
| lightning played all avound ths steamer
and he saw it strike twice inside of three
minutes. The first stroke hit birch
tree, splitting 10 from top to bottom.
while the next one run down the mast
Of seow into the bold. He could not
tall WHISTLER 1t did any damage or in
/ iured anyone.
A barn owned by Mr.. Sswal1 Bsstin,
situated on the road from Yarmouth
90 Walnut hiil, was struck Friday night and
burned 10 the ground. Ths balm con-
tained 20 tons of hay and 1t was all CON-
sumed. Two heifers and one horse were
also lost.
A List OF LOSSES.