Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-29
INCIDENTS OF LAST
NIGHTS STORM
There Was Plenty Of Thunder and
Lightning and COnsidera'
bic Damage
STOPPED ALL THE STREET CARS
When the Power Went OF the Lights
Went Out Story Of What Hap.
pened Ia and Out of City,

severe lightning and thunder storm
broke the back Of the heated spell last
evening, and was attended by more or
less dramatic Incidents Heavy clouds
blew In from the northwest about p.
NJ. and gathered until they broke loose
at 5.45. The Tabernacle organ recital
was half through, and the organist in
the middle Of beautiful strain when
the power went of, which wasn't so
beautiful; and after waiting several
minutes. with no certainty Of the pow
er's return, the audience was dismissed.
The people had no more than got into
the street before the rains descended
and the floods came, and there was a
general dash for shelter.
POWER OFF, LIGHTS OUT.
when the power went off electric
lights went out and the entire street.
car system came to a standstill. The
lightning had got the high tension
wires into trouble at Layton, and In
view Of the recent destruction Of the
Murray station Of the Utah Light &
Railway company, Manager Campbell
did not take any chances on the de-
struction Of the immensely valuable
Central station sachinery which could
no. be replaced I'm six months. So he or
dered the power cut off until after the
incessant lightning had diminished. In
fact the circuits kept breaking fuses
blowing ouO go rapidly that had any
attempt been made 10 keep them clos
ed, the extra potential would have
broken loose along the lines, very like
ly burning up half a dozen cars. SO
there was nothing else to do. on some
of the lines the cessation Of traffic was
hut Is or 20 minutes, while on other
lines II was considerably longer. The
trouble at Layton was quickly repair
ed by the linemen, so that the stoppage
of the elevator service was but brief
The stoppage OF the lights did not oc-
oasion much Inconvenience, as it was
daylight.
NOTHING TO PREVENT
Both Manager Campbell and En-
gineer Hayward said today that there
has been absolutely no device Invented
UP to date which can be relied on as
guarantee against damage to electrical
systems from lightning. And there has
been no damage to the electrical plant
Of the companys since its organization
except through lightning. Mr.. Camp
hell referred to a statement in morn
ing paper that "a competent man from
come other city may be employed to
remedy conditions" and said ne wish
ed some one who could devise a plan
10 ward off successfully the effects OF
lightning would show up. He could
have immediate, steady and profitable
employment. The total loss TO the
Light and Railway company from last
evenings storm win amount to $1,000.
HEAVY WIND AT sALTAIR.
The lightning struck the pump at
the salt works, but did not infliCt any
material damage. The gale at Saltair
was quite heavy heavy enough In fact
TO lift the dishes off the tables where
the picknickers were eating. The heavy
rain flooded the intersection Of West
Temple and Second South streets, and
as the cutters were insufficient to carry
Off the water city employees from the
joint building attempted to widen the
east side gutter, In attempting to do
this, they cut through the concrete
enclosing the condults containing ca
bles Of the Bell Telephone company
with n big cold chisei and then drove
into one of the cables. This Immediate
ly cut off service from 200 telephones,
and there is no telling how much more
damage these intelligent workmen
might have gone but for the prompt
arrival of telephone llnemen. 10 was
necessary TO take out 400 feet Of the
cable, and replace Il with new, which
occupied Il force Of men way into the
night, but the service was made good
by this morning, General Manager
Murray OF the Telephone company said
today, that the loss was at least $3.50,
and that the company should look to
the city to make this good.
PRoMIsCoUs FREAKS.
lightning played a number OF freaks
about town. cutting down a tree here
and there, while a ball OF electrical fire
dropped from q nest Of wires on east
First South street so near a messenger
boy on his wheel named Robert l..
Bellemere, that the lad was thrown i'm
TO the rOadWayand subsequently faint
ed twice before he was able TO return TO
his office. The rainfall as recorded by
the weather Office registered only ,33 OF
an inch. while along the benches the
fall was much heavier The weather
Office also reports local rains with thun-
der and lightning all over the state.
The rains left the temperature much
cooler. At 6 a. m. II was 60 degrees by
10 a. m, the mercury had risen only
1--WE degrees, at ~ noon It was GS and
at 10 a. M, the mercury had risen only
five degrees, at ~ noon 1t was 6S and
at p. M, II was ~ degrees; while yes
derday, the maximum thermometer was
50, with with GA as the minimum, There
Is a delightfully."- cool breeze blowing to-
day, and the air is lnygoratlng and
ENJOYABLE, The weather man predicts
fair ana warmer for tomorrow.