The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-19
Damage Done Was of a Minor
Nature But Many FeopIe
Were Badly Scared.
MARGINS UNUSUAL RECORD
ONE OF The PLACES STRUc<
WAS THE DOUBLE HOUSE AT 9
AND II scUTK SIXTEENTH
STREET..

The month OF March seems to be
proving an exception this year, in that
there has been a number of electrical
storms sweeping the county, one of
the worst of which struck Richmond
about four o'clock this morning. The
lightning was binding while the loud
claps of thunder awoke majority of
the people in the city. The high
wind and heavy rain fur cher tended to
make the storm alarming.
Electric lighting companies, ii
though not suffering any direct loss
to the plants themselves, were con-
sfderably handicapped throughout the
day by down wires and the repair
ing of fuses which had blown out in
different sections of the city. Tele-
phone systems suffered to great ex-
tent, wires being grounded while
about fifty phones in different parts
of the city were burned out by the
lightning. The latter struck in sew
eral places but the damage was. not
great.
Fury Was Alarming.
A high wind coupled with vivid
lightning to the south warned the
people that a severe storm was com
ing and i'll few moments, the rain,
thunder and lightning broke loose ov-
er Richmond with a fury, which alarm
ed many. The popping of the tele
prones and the ringing of telephone
bells added to the situation One loud
clap of thunder followed another and
the heavens seemed to be a vertiable
mass of fire and scarcely moment
during the fifteen minutes, which it
took for the storm to pass over the
city, was there darkness
Older men of the city say they have
never seen such a great number of
electrical storms during the month of
March. The conditions this year have
been very unusual
Welcome to Farmers.
The farmers welcomed the down
pour of rain. as it further strengthens
the chances for an excellent wheat
crop. 1t is singular fact that dur
ing the past four days it has rained
every night but not a single drop of
water has fallen during the day.
The high wind which accompanied
the storm Monday night PLAYED havoc
with fences in northern portions of
the county. according to the state
ment of a farmer from Williamsburg
He said that all worm fences in
his section had been laid low. and
in many instances at an early hour
stock was roaming over the wheat
fields.
One of the places in Rich, ond
struck by lightning was the doub,e
house at 9 and IL South Sixteenth
street, occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. mo
and c. S. Neal AID family
In the deafening crash and binding
flash Of lightning that appeared tc be
he climax of the storm, the current
struck the center chimney. knocking
several bricks. from it., tearing a hole
in the roof and blowing out the, ell |
actric light fuse boxes on both sides, |
the doors of these boxes being forced I
open. No one on either side was in
iured or even shocked and it is re-
sarded as exceedingly ., remarkable |
that the building was not set on fire. |
as Mike Clancy here." agked the I
Ssfsor az The quarry JUST. after the /
premature explosion ~ ..s5i
t.-No: sor, re8lied costigan. Hes /
gomez s.s e-f = - -
Fer good f'ts 49, -5
Wen. sor. he whit IN that dfrec- /
tioE,.-Fit- Bfts