The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1905-05-17
FLASH CUTS CA A.
~
LIGHTNING PERFORMS oil =
ANTICS IN NEW ORLEANS
Roof, Chimney and Side Of House
Shattered, Plastering Looselied
Woman Gets Into Bed and
Escapes Injury.

New OfleanS.-NltQ nel 1taG DuIltu
between two pillows and lying pros
trate on feather mattress. Miss Cath
crime Surgi, of Derbigny and Lapey-
rouse streets, passed through one Of
the most remarkable and thrilling
lightning experiences recorded in -
city. The house was stYuck wk'
rain and windstorm was at itY
and the bolt. after following
wire, shattered the roof an
over a rear upstairs rooT
filled the house with brolf
and destroyed several triS
mantelpiece. After going, SOL
this Miss Surgi emerged froS
of shelter and calmly eallef1 Z
ance, as she believed T.
had been set on fire
The Surgi res
a series of VIM,
startled theMHkf
vicinity esSH&a
Capt. r. j. Gallicicf SSN
No. 10, was in the eN
he saw blaze start6.i
ing in the direction q
home. He watched the
rapidly approached tRe~-A
Derbigny and Lapeyrouse, wheS-=s2
denly the circuit jumped from theN y
to an electric signal button on : IL
front of the Surgi place. G,
The impact was SO great that the
front door was knocked of its hinges
and the glass panel broken into frag-
ments. The side of the house where
the hinges were fastened was torn
into splinters before Miss Surgi real
lied what had occurred.
The trinkets on the mantelpieee were
knocked off and broken, but large
plate mirror suspended over the
mantel was found lying on the floor,
upside down, without a crack, one of
the many freaks played by the light
ming. The plastering in the same room
and that of the adjoining room. which
' was occupied by Miss Surgi, was torn
from the walls and ceiling.
The lightning, according to Capt.
Gallicio's examination, followed the
bell wire through three rooms and the
= kitchen to a small shelf used for the
storage cells. These were found intact,
but the current continued down an
other wire to the rear of the hOuS& =
S must have been interrlnted. fef three
: boards in a featRec--ee9ess.-es fence were
S broken off as if the work was done BY
!. a carpenter
After demolishing the fence the
! power again followed the bell wire, go
: ing up the steps to a room on the sec
ond floor
Here the most startling work was
l. done, for every slate was torn off tn,
e roof and the brick chimney scattered
Y in almost every direction. Some o
r the broken brick were hurled for hal
, a square, while the flying plaster w
converted into a dense cloud. n
walls were disconnected at the,corS
d and, in fact, the room was a wreck
e. Miss Surgi explained that she wen
n through the whole thing without
; scratch. She attributes her escap
a from death to a remarkable combina
ton of circumstances. first amoni
which was presentment that light
ming would strike the house, and tn
# other was that she suddenly beeam
afraid and protected herself by gettin
into bed.
Il was never afraid in my life befor
this storm came up" declared Mis-
Surgi in relating her experience, "bu
y something told me to leave my SEWN
or machine and take to the bed. as
On know that a feather mattress is a nor
II. conductor. l had hardly covered m
n head with the pillows when I hear
N loud report, accompanied by blind
!; ing flash. l knew it was lightning
but it was all over so quick that I di
N not know what had actually happene
III until l got up and saw the house file
Jc with plastering and the front doc
pr torn from its fastenings. Then
rushed to the sidewalk and called 70
IS help, as I was under the impressio
that the house was on fire"