Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-08-08
FEAR END OF THE WORLD.
People Panic-Stricken by Severe
Electric Storm.
SWEEPS OVER STATE.
Many Barns Destroyed Near Camp
bel1spOrt and Grain Consumed
Train Delayed at Oshkosh.


vicinity of this place thought the end of
the world had come this morning, and
were terror-stricken. One of the worst
electrical storms ever seen in this part
Of the state came about midnight and
lasted for about two and half hours.
There was the worst cannonading of
thunder ever heard in this section, and
the cattle became unmanageabe and
broke from the barns. Several buildings
were struck by lightning. which started
fires, and the buildings were burned to
the ground
Lightning struck all about Campbells-
port IN most terrifying profusion. Will
liam Scheid's barn. about a mile south
of here. was burned to the ground after
being struck. 1t had the barley from
thirty-two acres, ten tons of hay, wag-
on and numerous farming implements in
1t. All were consumed The loss Is
about $1,000 insured. Joseph Cllrich'
house was struck in this village, but the
fire was extinguished before very great
damage was done Adolph Ullrich's
barn was struck and Il 500 COW was
killed. John Jaeger's barn, about three
miles west of here was struck and
burned to the ground This barn was
also filled with barley and hay. The
loss is about $500, covered by lnsur-
ance William Howard's barn. two
miles west of here, was struck and a
team worth 500 was killed. Number
less trees were struck in all parts of the
country.
FLAMES Consume 1873 Sheep.
Waukesha. Wis. Aug. 81 Special. /
Never before in the annals OF this city
has a thunderstorm, such as visited it
last evening, been seen here The storm
gathered at 8 o'clock and it was one sue
cession of thunder and lightning. until
about , o'clock in the morning. The
crashes were deafening and the lightning
caused considerable damage wherever 1t
struck The trees around the town and
! country. particularly to the south. have
suffered great deal of damage.
Among the first flashes Il barn belong
ing to Hobo Smith. three miles east of
the city. was struck and almost lmmedl-
ately consumed. The barn was new
one, 80 by 40 feet, and together with 1:5o
sheep and head of horses was entirely
destroyed There was some grain and
hay in the barn and nothing was insured
except the barn on which there was
small policy. Mr.. Smith lives about
half mile from the barn and nothing
could be done to save 1t.
The storm burst on the city and all
through its course the rain fell III tor
rents. Streets and hills are deeply fur
arowed with the cuts made by the running
water. Trees were cut off ut their base
and several pieces Of roofing about town
were ripped off.
At Fond du Lac.
Fond du Lac Wis, Aug. 81 Special
The most terrific electric storm that
has visited this section of the state in
years commenced shortly before midnight
last night and continued several hours,
striking terror to the hearts of the timid
ones and doing considerable damage
throughout the county. The storm was
accompanied by torrents of rain. and hail
fell for over half an hour. lightning
Il
east corner of Division and Gould streets
at about ; O'Clock and set fire to the
building. While stunned and daZed, all
the inmates escaped in safety Several
families of Italians occupied the flats.
The fire department responded in short
order. but the flames had made consid-
cradle progress and were eXtinguished
only after a hard battle. The damage
to the building is in the neighbOrhood of
500, covered by insurance The con
tents of the building that escaped the
flames were badly damaged by water.
Along Shores of Lake Winnebago.
The storm ragged furiously along the
shores of Lake Winnebago and the terri
fed cOttagerS occupying summer homes
along the lake passed sleepless and long
night. Numerous trees were shattered
by the lightning and at Lakewood beach.
east of IucO, the storm was especially
violent. Lightning struck large willow
o
Lee cottage. between and 3 o'clock.
and a moment later lightning struck the
barn. The women of the household
Mrs. Lee and her sister, Mrs. Belts of
Cincinnati. and a servant girl. were
alone in the cottage but finally sum
mOned courage to venture out and call
Charles Hastings. two cottages west of
the one they occupied.
Valuable PAGER Shocked
Mr.. Hastings aroused other gentlemen
at the resort and on Investigation found
that Mr.. Lees valuable pacing horse.
which was IN the barn. was knocked
down by the shock, but wars still alive.
The bolt had entered the roof at about
its center and passef! in two directions,
one along the ga bic, and the other
through 2x4 along the west side to the
ground. The building did not take fire.
Stimulants were administered to the
horse, which may recover.
Reports from several other parts of the
county tell of, much damage done by
lightning and the rain and hail.
Fire at Van Dyne.
The James elevator in Van DynP, eight
miles north of here, was struck by light
ming and burned to the ground North
Western telegraph wires were broken,
and it was well along in the morning
before Fond du Lac dispatchers had a
line north. The village had a narrow
|
At ViroQua.
Viroqua Wis, Aug. 3.-The barn of
Andrew Anderson. few miles from this
city, was struck by lightning and burned,
together with two horses and colt
Last nights electric storm Was one of
| the worst of the season. Lightning
struck many houses and barns. Tobacco
and other crops were damaged by high
winds.
| Severe Hai1Sfo
Alma, Wis, Aug. 3.-The severest
hailstorm ever witnessed in Buffalo coun-
| ty passed along it's western border yes
| terday, covering strip nearly two miles
wide, about three miles back from the
Mississippi river. The path of the storm
was from northwest to southeast and it
| extended over about fifteen miles
through the towns of Nelson. Alma and
Belvidere, destroying all grain in its
path Most of the small grain had been
cut. but corn and vegetables suffered
severely. The damage done amounts to
thousands of dollars.
Plainfeld Wis, Aug 81 Special. 7
The droutth was broken yesterday by a
heavy rain doing great benefit to early
! 9th