Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-09-08
Work of Lightning In Paris.
LARGE FARM BUILDINGS OF AUSTIN P.
srEARNs DESTROYED, WITH A HUN
DRIED TONS OF HAY, FARMING TOOLS,
AND ALL STOCK EXCEPT ONE HORSE.

During severe thunder shower which
passed over Paris o little before mid
night Friday night, lightning struck TIT
barn of Austin p. Stearns at Maple Farm
one mile north of Paris Hill, and the en-
tire set of buildings, except the bricl
walls of the main house and a small
storehouse standing apart from thu
other buildings, was totally destroyed
Two horses, eighteen head Of cattle, ano
a number of swine persisted in the flames
Over hundred tons of hay, all the
farming tools, harnesses, and most Of
the carriages went up in smoke, all that
was saved outside of the house being
one horse and two of the least valuable
of the wagons. A good part of the
furniture of the house was got out, but
necessarily in damaged condition.
The shower, of which there was no
suggestion in the air at country bedtime,
came up after IL o'clock, and the light.
ming was so near and so continuous as to
cause apprehension in many minds. Mr..
Stearns partially dressed and went down
stairs to cut out his telephone. Return
ing up stairs, he thought he would not
go back to bed until the shower had
passed, and sat down on the edge of the
bed. He had been sitting there only a
minute or so when the bolt struck the
barn. The shock was sufficient to throw
him back on to the bed, but he quickly
recovered and got to the barn as soon as
possible.
He found the inside of the barn a
mass of fire. and some of the animals of
his stock already stretched on the floor.
He succeeded in getting out his driving
horse, but the other two horses were
PROSTATE. He managed to unhitch three
of the cattle, but was unable to get them
out before the fire drove him out of the
barn, and he had to jump out OF win
dow to save himself.
There are only few near neighbors,
but such as there are were quickly at
hand. The flames spread SO rapidly
through the long shed connecting the
house and barn, that there was no
chance of saving anything except from
the house. By the time the first COM
ers from Paris Hill arrived, the barn and
shed were mass of flame, with the roofs
fallen in. and the fire pouring against
rapidly filling with smoke.
There was time to remove the larger
part, though not all, of the contents OF
the house, but of course in damaged
condition, as, besides the breakage Incl
dental to such hurried work by an insult
ficient force, everything had to be car
ried out into the heavy rain which con-
tiuued for an hour. The breakage was
not large, considering the circumstances.
The fire burned very clean, and so
rapidly that some of the observers at
distance could hardly believe it was a
large set of buildings, so quickly did the
light die down.
An article of some length regarding
Mr.. Stearns and his farm, reproduced
from the Maine Farmer, was published
in the Democrats agricultural depart
ment only few weeks since, and will be
recalled by most of our readers. The
house, which was of brick, and COM
monty known as the Gen. Hubbard
house, was built about 1910, and was at
the time one of the finest houses in town.
The other buildings, including the ITO
foot barn, have largely been built by
Mr.. Stearns since he occupied the farm,
and were extensive and well stocked.
There was an insurance of $500 on
the buildings and their contents, which
will fall short of covering the loss by at
least $1,000.
Mr.. Stearns and his family have stored
their goods in the Farrar house, owned
by Hon. Z. l.. Paris, on Paris Hill, and
are staying with the family of his father,
S. P. Stearns, at South Paris. What he
will do about rebuilding is not yet fully
decided.