The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-29
Struck the City With
Damaging Effect SUM-
day Night
AT THE BEACH
A Large Building Was Struck by
Lightning Early Yesterday Morn
ing and Damaged Considerab1y-In
the City the Lightning Struck and
Ser Fire to Il in Brook
lyn-Fire Alarm System and Trolley
Line Also Suffered.

Sunday night one of the severeSt and
most startling electrical storms, inter-
spersed with hard howsrs of rain. fell
to the lot of Wilmington and vicinity,
which included Wrightsville Beach
with a big 'include." The storm was
also accompanied at times by a high
wind.
Late Sunday afternoon the weather
became threatening and kept its omin-
Gus appearance until shortly after 9
o'clock. when the elements broke forth
in all their fury. The thunder was loud
and almost incessant and the lightning
was most awesome in its dazzling and
sharp effect. Several trees around the
city We're struck and two fuses of indi-
Gators at the house of Hose Reel Com
pany No. l, near Brooklyn bridge, were
burned out. which opened the fire alarm
circuit in that part of the city and
made the system of no use for the time
being. After these fuses had been
burned out the lightning struck the
roof of a boarding house, conducted by
Mr.. John r.. Boyd. No. 215 Harnett
street, and set it afire. This happened
about 9:45 o'clock and the top of the
house was soon in a light blaze. Several
attempts We're made to send in alarms,
but the burned fuses refused to permit
aid to be obtained that way and the
telephones were reSOrted to, but with
the same result: and all the time the
fire was burning on and the firemen,
who always respond SO quickly to an
alarm, We're utterly Oblivious to the
outside trouble. In order to give an
alarm Police Sergeant Woolard, who
to run to the fire-hOuse, near the
bridge, and carry the first news of the
cOntiagration. This company. as did all
the rest, responded quickly and went
to the scene and. though the fire had
been underway for fully twenty min
uteS. Don succeeded in getting it UNI
der perfect control.
All of the furniture, except a very
few articles, was saved. The house was
damaged t. the extent of about 5000,
covered by insurance with MeSSrS. j. H.
BOatWright & Son. 1t is owned by Mr..
Matt Heyer.
Several of the boarders were asleep
in the house at the time the lightning
struck. but no one was hurt.
The street car line was very fortunate
in escaping with only trivial damage
and very slight inconvenience. Arma-
lures on two OF the cars were burned
out. which rendered the cars useless
LII lIlSS lou ~ NC tulS ~ lIit
Several of the other cars were com
PEELED 1t times to run slowly.
ON WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH.
The eashore was also visited by h
storm, or rather storms. The first was
about 9:15 o'clock and consisted of a
hard down-pOur of hail. followed by
much rain. Just before l o'clock yes
terday morning the second one which
was of a sever electrical nature. put
i'm m aanaa1 10 n cIInn1n on tho
south wing of one of the large build
ings on the beach was struck with ter
rife force by the lightning. The roof of
the cupalo was torn up and the light
ming escaped to the outside IN some
wires that were located near by. The
damage will probably amount to 800.
Several gentlemen were sleeping IN the
building at the time and they lost no
time in awaking and staying in that
condition.