Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-08-23
AWFUL STORM
SWEPT THE CITY.
Barn Struck by Lightning and
Fired.

evening SWep6 over UnlS SecUlOn. ss
Wind, cyclonic in its force. rain
falling in torrents, flooding the
streets, hail, large, falling with
force, thunder, frightful in it's peals,
while the lightning was simply ter
rible,l made the storm the most
severe that has threatened the COM
munity in years. ,t,....,f. s.f.,.-sp
Before six O'Clock the black clouds
in tee northwest told of the ap-
preaching storm, and there was a
general scampering for shelter. The
thunder growled about for awhile
and the rain pattered down in great,
splashing drops. Then there was
peculiar yellow pallor in the sky and
the streaks of forked lightning
flashed and darted in most terror
izing manner. Fierce crashes of
thunder, and down came the flood of
water in binding sheets. No drain
age could carry off the rapidly ac-
cumualted flood, and the water arose
over the cutters, swept the sidewalks
and the large sewers were choked.
Down all grades the water leaped as
if from a bursting mill dam and
swept on with velocity that carried
with it any object that was in it's
path. Down town, empty cases and
barrels standing. upon the sidewalks
were picked up and swept down the
cutters as if in an irresistible tide.
Then came a change in the atmos-
phere. The mercury slipped down
from the. ninety mark. to about six
ty-two, and hail fell. The great,
white stones of ice pattered down
with force. Window panes were
broken, and the umbrellas that
were carried were torn in shreds by
the continuous pelting.
The accompanying winds were fear
full in their velocity. They shrieked
as they rushed on catching up every
thing in their path. Limbs were
snapped off, fences were Ieveled and
great trees unable to stand the resist
less force were torn bodily from their
roots.
The storm lasted nearly an hour
and it's damage was very consider
able.
A lightning bolt struck the barn of
Elias CARL Oh Chestnut avenue. 1t
was large structure and the shaft
entered very near the peak of the
=, roof. -Four tons of hay inside were
fired instantly and in a few moments
raging flames mocked the downpour
of the torrents The heavens
about were illuminated with the
fire and Mr.. CARL, his son and neigh
bors did all possible to save the prop
erty. No hope of the building, the
energies OF all were bended toward
getting out the two horses, the two
COWS and some pigs. The efforts
were successful. An attempt was
made to turn in an alarm from the
box at Pearl and Penn streets, but
this failed, as did the attempt to
turn ia the alarm from the Cumber-
land glassworks, the apparatus haV-
ing been burned out by the light
ming. Will Prickett; motorman of
one of the cars sped down Laurel
street, notified the pioneer and
this office telephoned the Fire De-
partment, and there was quick re-
sponse. The efforts of the firemen
were directed in saving adjoining
property and in this the firemen
were successful. The loss to Mr..
CARL will be trifiing, the four hun
dreds of dollars damage being nearly
entirely covered with insurance.
Up at the Tumbilng Dam Park the
storm was furious. The winds swept
through the groves doing some dam
age to the trees. tearing out por-
tion of the ball fence and twisting
out of shape one of the small pavil-
ions near the pond. A lightning bolt
. struck the roof of the upper pavilion,
but did no damage to the building.
George ,Vannaman, who was in the
second story was stunned by the Shock
and for a time was unconscious. One
OF his arms was pretty badly burned,
ne being in the act Of closing shut
ter when the bolt struck.
Elijah Pennington who lives on
Spruce street, had a remarkable ex-
perlence. and it seems little less than
miracle that he lives to tell of it.
While the storm was raging he was
assisting his wife with the supper
= ork. He was in an open shed in
the rear of the house, having just
emptied a dish pan. A binding flash
a aseemed to engulf the entire house
with a fierce light, and Mr.. Penning-
ton was knocked insensible to the
ftoor, The, tin pan was knocked from
his hands