The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-18
Some Narrow Escapes from Death and
Few Queer Freaks of the
Electric Fluid Reported.
STORMS ALMOST GENERAL
HEAVY RAINS REPORTED FROM
SEVERAL POINTS IN INDIANA.
Barns Struck by Lightning and
Part of the Corn Belt.

The thunderstorm that visited Indian
apolis yesterday afternoon was greeted
with cheerful praise. as the rain relieved
long-felt want and cooled the atmosphere
perceptibly The lightning and wind played
some queer pranks, and a little damage
was done throughout the city and several
narrow escapes from lightning were re-
corded
The storm, that threatened TO blow up
all afternoon, cid not make its appearance
until nearly o'clock. and II was accom-
panied by flashes of lightning and loud
peas Of thunder. The storm came from
the southeast and was recorded as local
affair by the Weather Bureau.
The wind blew at "A velocity OF thirty-four
miles an hour at the weather office, while
in the southeastern and northeastern parts
of the city it was much stronger The rain
fall registered at the weather Office was
only IS of inch. while in the southeast
ern and northeastern parts OF town IL was
much heavier. There was a rainfall OF
10 inch yesterday morning and .02 after
o'clock last evening.
During the storm lightning struck Frank
D. Ffshback's house. 1921 North Delaware
street, and tore out a side window. Two
little boys playing on the opposite side OF
the room were knocked down by the bolt
of lightning. and their escape from death
was marvellous. One of the boys received
a severe burn or his leg from the light
ming.
DIR. EARP'S HOUSE STRUCK.
Lightning struck DIR. s. L. Earp's three
story residence, l121 North Illinois street.
on the south side of the house. space
covering about ten feet square was laid
bare on the roof. and the heavy boards
and rafters were splntered. On the floor
OF the garret. where the splintered wood
fell, was a large pile OF fine splinters nicely
heaped in the middle Of the floor. The lace
curtains in the front windows of that floor
were literally covered with bits of fine
wood No other damage to the house was
done DR. Earp's family left the house just
before the lightning struck, and no one
was in the house al the time of the occur
renee Several large trees just north OF
Dr. Earp's house were struck and splin-
tered By the lightning.
Lightning struck at several points In the
northeastern part OF the city. In one OF
the big factories the Office force was star
tied by one of the telephones suddenly
attempting TO play the part OF an electric
light. Soon afterward a current Of cleo
descent globe with such force that the
light was turned on.
FIRE ALARMS.
Two fire alarms resulted from lightning
striking in the city. The first was at l1s
Quincy street where bolt of lightning
struck the house occupied by William ID.
Sullivan, demolishing the chimney. tear
ing off a number of shingles and starting
blaze which was extinguished by the rain
before the arrival of the fire department
Lightning striking electric wires con-
nected with the elevator in the five-story
building at "a West Maryland street.
caused a fuse TO burn out and sparks set
fire 10 lot of excelsior in the basement
used by Nutz & Grosskopf, wholesale deal
ers In lea ather. Men employed about the
building quickly got the burning excelsior
out into the alley and prevented a spread
A large tree at the corner OF station and
Twenty-ffth streets. in Brightwood. was
shattered by lightning and the force OF the
vicinity. Another large tree was blown
down in Brightwood. Several trees were
blown down on North Capitol avenue ana
in various other parts or the city where
the wind seemed 10 concentrate its ef-
forts for a few minutes at time.
BOYS SWAN IN STREET.
In the vicinity OF Martindale avenue and
Thirteenth street the rainfall was 80
heavy the cutters could not carry of the
water and the streets were flooded. colored
boys seized the opportunity for swim.
and splashed about in two feet OF muddy
water.
The temperature scared high early in tho
afternoon. but fell rapidly wher the storm
blew up. there being fall OF twenty-three
degrees between and 8 o'clock The read
ings OF the thermometer at the weather Of
fee during the day yesterday were as
follows.