The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-13
IT FELL DOWN HARD
Immense General Rain Visits
Southern Kansas.
FRANKS OF LIGHTNING
Several Places in Wichita
Were Struck
RANKS OF LIGHTNING

This section got steady two hours
rain yesterday. The big drops Of water
come straight down until the paved
streets were covered with a sheet Of
water and there was quite lake in the
vicinity of the new Missouri Pacific de-
pot All railroao trains coming into the
city reported rain along the lines of rail-
way.
The downpour caused the drouth crok-
ers to shut up like frogs in a hot noon
day sun and not few were heard to pre-
dict that wet weather would continue
through the harvest season and damage
the wheat.
The wheat is too nearly matured to be
benefited by the rain, but it is good
enough now. It was, however, welcomed
by the farmers. The pasture fields
needed the rain. It Will help the alfalfa
fields that have recently been moved.
The oats will I'LL better and corn will
grow all the faster on account Of the
rain and lastly it sprinkled the dusty race
track at South Riverside.
During the time the rain was falling
there was great electrical display. Great
fiery serpents shot hither and thither
over the city and then the overcharged
clouds would send out sparks followed by
loud explosions. The clouds were low
down and the thunder seemed so near
that the people looked out to see where
the last bolt had struck
. Sparks of electricity few from the
wires in the central Office of the tele-
phone company and the customer had
urgent business who ventured to use his
phone. The motoneers on the street
cars were alarmed for they had never
seen such fireworks before and they were
afraid the lightning would come tearing
into their cars. 1t, however. let the cars
alone and ripped into the power house,
but did no more damage than to disable
one of the generators.
The home of c. o. Alberts, Sl4 First
street was struck by lightning. It ran
down the kitchen chimney and knocked
it to pieces, scattering the SCOT and ashes
in clouds, causing the neighbors TO think
the house was on fire. Mrs. Atherts was
badly shocked and scared but not serious
ly hurt.
A big bolt Of lightning ran down the
wire into the drug store Of Doclum &
Higginson, on North Main street, knock
ing the electric fan to pieces. A farmer
standing inside the door threw up his
arms and staggered backward while Har-
~ Dockum ran out the back door and
Senator Tapp ran out of MS store across
the street into the rain bareheaded and
in his shirt sleeves. When Mr.. Dockum
picked up himself. the broken fan and
the stunned farmer he concluded that it
was not much of a storm after all.
The electrical machinery IN the clouds
took on big load and fred at the house
Of A. NJ. Cain, 345 North Wichita street
1t missed the house and hit a big cot
tonwood tree IN front, knocking one side
of it into tooth picks and dug a post hole
in the ground. Grant Reed who was in
the kitchen fixing his bicycle was knock
ed down by the shock. Mrs. Cain was
in another room and she found herself
kneeling when she recovered from the
shock. Miss Cain was less shocked but
she said the house semed full Of sulphur
smoke after the erriffic explosion.
Nicholas Bird was at one of the ma
chimes in the Beacon ofice. The light
ming ran down the wire and ournt out
the lamp six inches from his head with
loud report. Nick got up and began to
look around to see If any of the boys were
hurt. The force in the Office congratu-
lated Mr.. Bird because he was alive.