Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-06-06

rain. It was not till nearly nine
O'Clock that the electrical discharges
began, and when the wind raised to
its highest velocity.
Lightning Effects Electric Lights.
Shortly after nine O'Clock bolt of
lightning struck the Anderson House,
putting the electric lights out OF
com mission for the remainder of the
night. Soon after this the lights in
the Dixon House went out, as did
those at the Northwestern depot.
The storm increased in fury till the
electric light plant stopped the
machinery for nearly half an hour,
and the city was in darkness, except
for the continuous electrical discharges
that kept the sky light almost
steadily for fifteen minutes.
Before the city lights were shut of,
the lightning had put out Of COM
mission house lights all over town.
The east side was partially in the
dark all the remainder Of the night.
Curious Form Of Lightning.
At about 9:15 an electrical curiosity
was developed near the Oberbeck
factory, in the shape OF ball lightning.
This form of lightning is a rare one,
and is present only in the most severe
electrical storms. A huge ball of fire,
seemingly the size OF a large wagon
wheel dropped from the sky to the
earth, bounced up high enough to be
seen by number of people at quite a
distance, and then settled again to
the earth and disappeared. Unlike
other lightning, the ball of fire came
to the earth more slowly, and did not
come with great flash.
An Avalanche Of Water.
Before the city street lights were
turned out, the rain was falling in
such quantities that the arc lamps
scarcely gave any light, but glowed
through the avalanche of water as
mere luminous points. Old residents
here say that not in the history of
Wood county had the rain ever fallen
in such quantity and in such a
short time. During forty-four minutes
nearly three inches of rain fell, &C:
cording to actual measurement. As
the storm increased in fury, the rain
no longer fell in drops, but came in
sheets as though it was poured out OF
bucket. The drops became larger
till they merged into one another,
and were of the size of walnuts. The
storm was Of short duration, but such
cloudburst has never before visited
this county.
Damage in City and County.
ALI over this section OF the state,
the damage was enormous. Through
out the county, buildings were torn
down, roads were washed out, stock
was killed by the lightning and by
falling timbers from ruined buildings,
and two lives are reported to have
been lost, beside a half. dozen people
injured. Farm and village buildings
were struck by lightning and torn
down by the force of the wind, and
growing crops suffered to a great
extent. The Green Bay s. Western
passenger train that arrives in Grand
Rapids at shortly after ten O'Clock,
was caught in the storm Just west of
Plover, and had to finish the run
through the storm. The train broke
in two twice, and the train was a
little late as a result.
Besides the instances of lightning
previously given, bolt struck tree
about block from Judge Gaynor's resi-
dence on High street, and another tree
about three blocks from the Lincoln
high school, east. So far as we can
learn. the only one in the city who
was injured was Ben Shanks, of Biron
who was standing in front of Miller
& Gross saloon, when q bolt of light
ming hit in the middle of the street il
front OF him. The window behini
him was broken in, and Shanks wa
rendered insensible for short time
No severe injury was received. Othe
than this no one suffered muci
damage from the storm, outside O
the Electric Light people, the Conso
Ilidated, who were compelled to shr
down part of the plant for about /,
half an hour during the period o
lgreatest viol ence of the cloud burst
and the telephone companies. Nearl!
levery phone was put out of business
by the electrical discharges. SO tina
the entire system has to be overhaulet
and many phones repaired. During
the period of greatest violence Of tn
storm, the central switch boards wer
switched out and no effort was mad
to keep the service open till after tn
hardest part of the storm.
Damage All Over State.
Not only in this county, but al
over the state the terrific dOwnpou
of rain, accompanied by the grea
electrical display wrought grea
damage to property and life.