New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-03
HIT BY LIGHTNING.
Chimneys. Fence, FlagstGfs and
Church Spire Suffer.

One OF the four spires of the Church OF the
Divine Paternity, at the southwest corner of
Seventy and Central Park West. was
struck by lightning, and stone cornice weigh
ing about three hundred pounds was dislodged
and fell 70 the sidewalk. making a hole about
three feet square. When the lightning struck
the spire number of people had taken refuge
in the doorways Of the church. These were
badly frightened Although the big stone broke
into a hundred fragments, some weighing TWEEN
ty pounds OF more, which went flying in all di-
rections. was hurt. 1t was said, how
ever, that the spire IN a dangerous condi-
ton, and the Buildings Department was told
Of e. The damage caused by the wind how
ever, was infinitely greater.
Those who gathered at the Polo Grounds did
not see a game between the Giants and St
Louis, but they did lightning bolt demolish
an advertising fence The wind blew down
other fences around the grounds Many of the
spectators were alarmed, and for a while it
looked as though there would be panic.
One OF the places struck by lightning was the
Lancaster Apartment House, at No. 1886 West
End-ave., adjoining which is a similar apart
ment house, the Westbourne. Lightning struck
the chimney of the first named house and sent
it tumbliug to the street several stories below.
At the time Otto Robert, the janitor. was sit
ting In his rooms in the basement He says
house. and struck in the area outside his rooms
with report like that of a gun. He and his
family much frightened, and a brindle
bulldog was so scared that it bit Robert in the
leg.
Mrs. Lewis, a tenant of one of the upper
floors was bathing her children. She saw a
ball of fire go over the roof and then heard
the crash as the chimney struck. The
engineer and the elevator boy of the West
hall 0F Gre
The hagpole on the Arbuckle Building. Nos.
Il and 80 Water-st., was struck and split down
the centre. One-half Of the pole fell in the
street, some of it striking against the window
of the quarters of Engine No 3D. opposite
In Brooklyn the ffty-foot brick chimney at
the NJ T. Davidson pump works. No 43 Keap-
ST. was entirely destroyed by a bolt of lightning,
causing damage of $1,000. Henry c. Delhi.
twenty-three years old, of No. IS Starr-st., a
machinist in the employ of the company, was
caught under the mass of falling brick and
sustained a fractured skull and internal in
juries lie is in a dangerous condition in st.
Catbarine's Hospital.
The fagpole on the building of the Williams
burg Trust Company, Broadway and Myrtle
ave. was shattered. and the electrical apparatus
throughout the building was destroyed
A chimney on the three story brick building
No. 500 Fifth-ave., was struck and the house
set aire.
By the falling of the shattered flagstaff on the
building of the Borden Condensed Milk Com
pany, De Kalb and Lewis ayes, several pedes-
TRANS in the street narrowly escaped injury
In The Bronx the fagpole of the new Morris
High School building, at One-hundred- sixty
ninth-st and Franklin-ave., was splintered-
At Westchester and Bergen ayes. electric light
wires were struck and dozens Of stores were
minus electric lights At Fordham Square, Ford
ham, the telephone wires We're struck. and a
dozen of the safety fuses placed on the tops
of the poles for just such a happening were
blown out