The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-06
NEWS OF THE CITY
ELECTRIC STORM
DOES MUCH DAMAGE
One Woman Is Seriously In
jured, $500 Dwelling De-
stroyed, and Others Hurt


An electric storm, accompanied by a
heavy fall of rain, passed over ST. Paul
last evening, beginning at o'clock and
lasting for three hours, causing serious
injury to one person and doing much
damage to property.
The lightning flashes, ACCOMPANIED
by the crashing of thunder and the
downpour Of the rain, drove thousands
OF ST Paul people, having keen rec
objection of the recent cyclone, under
shelter. The telephone bells, rang, the
thunder pealed above the continual
| roar, street cars came to a standstill
and the dreadful electric flashes terror
lied the passengers.
In several instances the electric bolts
struck business houses and residences,
and although there was but one person
seriously injured, there were any num-
Der OF narrow escapes. Insone case the
dwelling into which the bolt darted
was entirely destroyed, and in others
the blaze started was extinguished by
the rain and with the assistance Of the
| fire department.
The first twenty minutes Of the
storm were the most severe and in
the downtown district it seemed as if
the very air was surcharged with a
dangerous electric current, darting in
all directions. The heavy rain that ac-
companied the display drove pedes-
TRANS from the streets, although few
would have dared remain outside and
face the bolts Of lightning. In that
time most of the damage was done by
the lightning, which afterwards seemed
to recede some distance and take on a
less dangerous character. The DOWN
pour of water, which at the time SEEM
ed to be almost a cloudburst continued
to do great damage.
Mrs. c. e. Kenny Injured
Mrs. Charles E. Kenny. living at the
Empire hotel Seventh and Rosabel
streets, was the most seriously in
jured. In company with friends she
was driving at the corner of Arcade
and Fauquier streets. when there came
strong flash OF lightning, accom-
panied by a report of such force that
1T seemed to lift the horses from their
feet. All the occupants Of the vehicle
We're thrown to the ground, and Mrs.
kenny's left arm was fractured below
the elbow. She was taken to the city
hospital for treatment. The persons
riding with her were not injured and
the horses were only frightened.
Julius Wardean, 632 Earl street, was
sitting in the house with his four chill
dren near by. There was a crash that
tore the brick chimney from the build
ing and sent bricks in all directions.
The bolt came down the chimney,
breaking the masonry and passing
within few feet of the five members
of the family. The house was set on
fire and considerable damage done, es-
timated at $500.
lightning struck the Flagstaff on the
top of the department store of Schune-
man d Evans, Sixth and Wabasha.
The conclusion from the stroke was
noticeable, but the only person serious
ly affected was woman walking on
the street below. She fell to the pave
ment as though struck with a club.
Persons came-funning from all direc-
lions, with PatrOIman Lindou among
the first to arrive. AS the officer
stopped to assist the woman she sud-
denly arose to her feet, passed her
hand across her eyes, declared that
She was not injured, and declining to
Schuneman & Evans building was not
damaged, although pieces of the flag
staff were thrown 100 feet.
Switchman Shocked by Bolt
A young man employed by the street
oiiNo y SOlHpdAy DIS SWllCQulan alt
Eighth and Wabasha streets was
shocked by lightning at 6 o'clock while
waiting for a car at Fairfield and South
Robert streets. His injuries are not
serious. The sWitchman was leaning
against an iron pole when the bolt
struck in his vicinity and the shock
rendered him almost helpless for sew
eral minutes. He was able to work
last night, but complained of severe
| pains in his legs and back
The residence of Mrs. w. Chapel,
| corner Of Golf avenue and Jackson
street, just outside of the city limits
| in West st. Paul, was struck, set on
| fire and totally destroyed, the loss on
| the building and furniture being $2,50O
The blaze would have been worse but
for help from the st. Paul fire depart
ment. A chemical was sent from ST
Paul, there being no water with which
| to use an engine, and this prevented
the destruction of two other buildings
! owned by Mr.. Chapel. These build
ing were damaged 5000, the paint being
| ruined and roofs scorched so that they
must be replaced.
| Electric wires carried a bolt into the
| basement of Schroeder's grocery store
| at Western and Selby avenues, caus-
ing blaze that did little damage be-
cause of the quick arrival of the fire
department..
The residence Of l.. o. Hanson, 302
| Genesee street, was struck, the CHM
| ney being knocked off, the house set
| on fire and $50 damage done A barn
| of unknown ownership, at Sixth and
| Earl streets, but short distance away
| was struck, set on fire and destroyed
| The estimated damage is $500.
Rain Did Greater DAMAGE
From a financial standpoint the rain
did far more damage than the light
ming. The great rush of water carried
/ away great part of the approach to
the Forest street bridge, putting Sc
much earth onto the railroad tracks be-
| low that trains We're delayed for some
time. Hope street, from Seventh to
! Minnehaha, was apparently a running
| river and when the storm was over
1 was more Of gully than a roadway.
Nearly all Of the unpaved steer
streets were badly damaged and it viii
require some time and the expenditure
of considerable money to make repairs
| Several of the streets that had just