Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-28
WORK OF LIGHTNING.
DRUG STORE or r. A. sHuRTlEFF
& co. RUINED.

4 - IN 80 N"k& - - ~ NJ
DRUG STORE OF r. A. sHuRTLEFf
| & CO. RUINED.
THREE BARNS BURNED IN NORWAY
NUMEROUS BOLTS STRUCK IN SOUTH
PARIS, DURING A TERRIFIC SHOWER
The hot wave which had been sizzling
for two or three days reached the cul-
minstion OF It's wrath Sunday afternoon,
when considerable portion Of It's
energy WAS converted into electricity,
and the plain where lie the villages OF
South Paris and Norway was visited by
an electrical tempest the like Of which
is not remembered by any resident. The
track Of the storm was not wide, "a
within few miles both north and south
there was no shower, while at Paris
Hill, though there was lively pour of
rain, there was no lightning near. But
In the valley Il was terrific, and It left
behind trail OF smoke and fire and
shattered houses.
A few minutes after the rain had
stopped, smoke was discovered Issuing
from the drug store Of +. A. Shurileff
s Co. An alarm was given, and the de-
psrtment was promptly at hand. The
store WAS solid mass Of smoke, which
rolled out when the door was opened, and
the upper part Of the building was filed
with smoke not so dense. Although Ii
was difficult to locate the fire, II was put
out without getting outside Of the drug
store where 1t started.
The stock and fixtures are nearly
total loss---fire, smoke and water running
about everything. The fire evidently
came In on the telephone wires, which
enter the Office ut the rear Of the store.
All the wood work Ia that part Of the
store Is badly chsrred, and the fire ran
over quite portion Of the room. The
diplomas hanging on the wall at the
front end Of the room were burned out
Of the frames, and the plate glass win
dows were both broken.
Shurtleff 4 Co. had an insurance OF
81 l25 on stock and fixtures. Their pre-
scriptiou files, which were In the labora-
tory at the rear, were ssved-somewhat
scorched, but all right. Mr.. Shurtleff
went to Portland on the early train
Monday morning after more goods. Tenn
porsry quarters have been secured in the
assessors office In Id Fellows Block,
and Messrs. Shurtleff 4 Co. will be open |
Tor business there Tuesday morning.
The effects Of Wilson & Gray, 10 their |
office on the other side Of the building, |
we're carried out, but no damage was |
lone TO the Office except by little |
imoke. There was a little smoke and /
water damage In DIR. Litt,efeld's Off e
md Grand Army Hall, over Shurtleffs
store.
After the lire was over, VIM j.
Wheeler went into his Office In Billings |
Block. and found Il full OF smoke. Ga
.op az telephone on the rear wall, con-
1ected with local circpit, few book
cts and folders were lying, and these
we're on fire. Mr.. Wheeler gathered
hem up and threw them out doors, and
hat disposed Of the fire. The door cas-
ng beside the telephone was consider
IDLY chsrred, and delay OF few min
ties would undoubtedly have seen quite
, fire under way in Billings Block.
OTHER SOUTH PARIS STRIKES.
The house of Myrtle Street, owned by
capt. Bolster and occupied by c. l..
Jersey, had one OF It's chimneys struck,
,taving IL up somewhat and blowing out
himhle caps and SCOT Unfortunately
,ver the house.
About five minutes later the house Of
4. +. Morton on High Street was struck.
The bolt came through the roof OF the
III over the kitchen, chewing up stud
ling and flooring In the unfinished
and tearing of plsstering and
breaking window In the kitchen below.
& also set fire 10 some OF the wood work,
nut the men Of the family were at hand,
md promptly extinguished IL.
The worst wreck made by the light
ling was In the buildings Of Mrs. Nellie
z. Cummings on Hill Street. From the
'front.' chamber 10 the back end OF the
table, almost every room shows the
marks Of the lightning, which seems TO
nave spread about in an astonishing
manner. The most astonishing thing
perhaps Is the fact that the stable was
lot set afire. The roof was filled with
,oles, and the studding on sll sides Of
he hay loft was splintered. There was
,uite little hay in the loft, and some Of
{ was lying against the studs which
we're splintered by the lightning.
Mrs. Cummings was not In the house
II the time, having gone TO neighbours
,nly few minutes before, when the
'hower came up.
IL IL rather remarkable that with the
way in which the lightning
lew about, no one was injured.
The high wind blew down some trees
between the two villages, breaking the
electric light wires, so that South Paris
vas In darkness Sunday night.
The telephone service was somewhat
but repairs are being msde.
THREE NORWAY BARNS BURNED.
Two barns on the farm Of Solomon L.
Nillett on Crockett Ridge In Norway,
,ome two miles above Norway village,
we're struck and burned. with two years.
,rop OF hay. The house, which was un-
occupied, was not connected with the
barns and was not burned. Insurance,
$3.50 on each Of the barns, and $500 on
he hay.
The barn of Charles Pride, standing
~ itself on Cottage Street, northeast OF
Norway village, was also burned. In
,ursnce, 800 on the barn, and 500 on
lsy and farming tools.