New-York tribune., 1900-08-08
BOLTS STRIKE BUILDINGS.
VIOLENT THUNDER AND LIGHTNING
STORM DOES MUCH DAMAGE IN
WEsTCHESTER COUNTY.

A violent thunder storm swept over Westches-
ter County yesterday afternoon between and 8
o'clock The storm was severest in Mount YER
non, New Rochelle and the towns on Long ISL
and Sound. The rain came down IN sheets and
in some places there was heavy shower OF haH-
stones. Many Of the stones that fell were as
large as hickory nuts and It is thought they did
severe damage to crops. The storm was accom-
panied by terrific peals OF thunder and lightning
Hundreds Of trees were struck. and the nigh
ways wero covered last night with broken
branches and wreekage.
In New-Rochelle four buildings were struck
and two were destroyed by fire. The first fire
IN New-Rochelle was at 2:15 o'clock, when a
terrific bolt Of lightning struck the large barns
OF Livingstone Disbrow, in North-st., beyond
the Paine Monument. Mrs. Charles DisoroW
whose husband leases the barns from his father
was sitting at q window at the time ana saw
the flames burst out, but the storm was so Sc
we're that she could not get out to send an
alarm Charles Siebrecht, florist Of this city
saw the barns burning and telephoned to the
police Nearly all of the New Rochelle hremen
were out of town on their annual excursion
but crew was found for the chemical engine
which checked the flames and saved the large
carriage house and homestead. Tie barns con-
tained nearly two hundred tons of hay and
farming implements and machinery, all Of
which lost. The fremen worked until late
in the afternoon trying 10 save the burning
bales of hay. They had a difficult time saving
the greenhouses of Watson B. Dickerman
which were near the burned barns
About fifteen minutes after the Disbrow barns
were struck another bolt set fire to a large cot
tage occupied by Mrs Elizabeth Atless. She was
not at home at the time, and the cottage
in the keeping of two men who were painting
and decorating it. When the storm came up
they took refuge the Veranda. While they
were sitting there a bolt of lightning struck the
house and tore away the roof. The crash was
so deafenlng that the men were knocked sense
less and almost blinded. AS soon they re-
covered they ran TO another house and sent in
alarm. The house and its entire contents
burned.
The other buildings struck in New Rochelle
were the City Bank and the homes of A. J. L.
Bradley, a broker Of this city, and Arthur L.
Z. Plattman The chimneys of the houses were
torn off and the inmates severely shocked. The
in the rear. and also shocked some OF the en-
plOyes. Ex-Judge John J. Crennan and some or
the other tenants put out TIE flames without
calling the fire department. The tin roof or
house in Anderson-st. was torn partially off.
large Irish setter owned by Willie Shon-
nard, of New Rochelle was killed in peculiar
way during the storm. A large ball of fire
passed along the trolley wires at Hudson Park.
At the end of the line at the park entrance 1t
descended iron pole TO which the wires are
attached and went into the ground, tearing
deep hole The dog struck his tail against the
pole, which was still charged with electricity.
and was killed instantly. The electricity also
were waiting for cars stepped on them and were
shocked