Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-21
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FIRE1ESIROYS q.
REDDING HOME
Residence on Briarfield Road Struck
by Lightning During Violent
8 g. ssssisss99 l9eN Storm. \

During the violent rain and electric
al storm which swept over this section
late Wednesday night, the homo Of
MIR. Il. g. Redding, the well known
dairymaIJ situated OH the Driariield
road. nchr YOUTHS old brick yard,
about four miles from this city, was
struck and set on fire by bolt of
lightning ut about 10:45 O'clock and
two hours later Il heap of shoulder
ing ashes was all that remained of the
building, which was Il large two-story
frame structure.
The shock from the bolt stunned
Mrs. Rcd,ling, WHO, at the time, was
in the nursery with her two little
children, and it was several hours
before she recovered from THE effects
of the shock. No one else In the
house was injured. but all were more
or less shaken up.
The lightning struck the house OH
the negtherly corner of the roof, just
over the. kitchen, which was situated
in the FEAR o. the building, and the
noise awakened Mr.. Redding who was
asleep in Il front room Immediately
after the shock he heard Il wild scream
from his wife. who was i'll room
Just across the hall from the one IN
which he was asleep. He hurried 70
the room and found Mrs Rcdding stag
gering around the floor in haless
dazed condition. He assisted her to
her bed and began administering 10
her comfort. still unaware that the
house was Gil fire.
A short time after, tho bolt struck
the building ayhircd man named Wat
son. who had been sleeping in a
room directly under the spot struck,
and who was thrown from his bed by
the shock, 'enmc up the hall and called
to Mr.. Reddiiig. who dispatched him
outdoors to sec what damage the light
ming had done the house
When Watson stepped out of the
pack door into the opening lie found
that the entire rear roof of the house
was ablazc and he hastily returned
to warn the, family
BY that time dozen or mere pcoplc
who live in that vicinity had been at
tractcd to the scene by tho blaze and
they assisted, : Mr.. Redding to get his
wife and children from the burning
building.
When they were out of danger tho
party set to work taking the furni.
.ture from tho house All OF thetfurni.
ture OH the first floor was saved cx-
cept big dining room table and near.
~ all OF that OH the second floor was
saved. While that work was in p,u.
gress the heavy downpour or rain be-
gan anew. drenching Mrs. Rcdding
and her children, who had been stand
Ing outside watching the fire. They
were hurriedly taken to the home 1f
MT. a. L.. Barker, a dairyman, who
lives near by, where they spent the
night
No attempt to cxtinguish the flames
were made, for Redding knew that It
would be useless, as the fire had gotten
TOO nuclit Roadway before discovered.
Owing to the heavy downpour of
rain however. the flames did not
spread to the barn near the building.
whero ABOUT 80 head OF cattle, several
horses' wagons and n large quantity
OF hay and corn was stored.
After his home had burned. Mr.
ReddinE and his hired man, Watson,
spent the rest of the night in the
barn,.5
me damage incurred by the burning
81 tile building is estimated to he
about 81 1000.