Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-07
Youth Killed by Bolt on Farm
Near SmithviIIe, Md.
MANY BARNS DESTROYED
Heavy Electrical Storm Hits New
England Towns.
RAILWAY TRAFFIC AFFECTED
Elkton, Nd, Electric Plant Put Out
of Service-New York Man.
Dies Of Fright.

RISING SUN. Md, August THE severe
storm which visited this section Wednes-
day afternoon and evening caused thou
sands of dollars loss. The barns of ]. w.
Watts and g. V. Ringler were struck by
lightning and consumed, with all contents.
The Watts barn was new, and contained
much valuable machinery. Three horses
persisted. The family were at Ocean
Grove for the summer. The Ringler farm
is occupied by Francis Porter. whose loss
will be heavy.
Small buildings, fences and trees were
blown down. Corn is lying fiat. Over a
hundred trees were felled In Whitaker S
woods.
On the James Patterson farm eight
chickens were struck. the farm bell rent
asunder and a young son. who was ec-
cupying a chair on the porch, was knock
ed down by lightning that shattered a
pine tree near by.
Miss Martha Kerr was standing in the
door when lightning struck a tree on the
opposite side of the road, telling her to
the floor.
Bolt Kills Young Man.
DENTON, Md. August Thomas F.
Mitchell 1s years old son of Mr. and
Mrs David Mitchell. residing on a farm
near Smithville, this county. was killed
by lightning at his parents home during
the severe electric storm Of Wednesday.
The young man was seated in a chair
in the dining-room leaning against the
lightning struck the chimney and he was
instantly killed. The chimney was de-
molshed and the lifeless body was found
partly covered with brick.
younger brother in the room above
was knocked down, but will recover. The
father had gone to Baltimore in the MORN
ing and was not at home.
At Denton and other sections of the
county the storm was very severe and
telephone service in many places was
destroyed.
Storm Ties UP Railroad.
NEW YORK, August THE New
York, New Haven and Hartford railroad
trains were tied up for several hours last
night following the severe electrical
storm in the afternoon which swept along
the line from Boston southwark to this
city. Passengers on both local and ex-
press trains bound north and south fret
ted while the trains lay inactive along the
tracks. many of them midway between
stations. 1t was announced at Grand
Central station that the electric power
had given out.
Whether lightnining struck the power
house or the third rail was not known at
! this end of the line. and dispatches from
Greenwich and other points along the
| route were equally in the dark as to the
| cause for the lack of power
A dispatch from Greenwich last night
said that several loud explosions had been
heard In the vicinity Of Coscob, and that
the residents were badly frightened
The Westinghouse Electric managers said
that they thought the lightning struck the
| 1vrf~ 81
tracks. but were not sure. The dispatch
also said report was current that a
fuse had blown out in the power house
which electrifies the third rail OF the New
Haven system.
At the Grand Central station friends of
passengers on the stalled trains waited
hours for the overdue trains to arrive.
On the bulletin board was posted early
in the evening:
mo power. All southbound New York,
New Haven and Hartford trains are from
one to two hours late"
Elkton in Darkness.
ELKTON. Md. August 7.-During the
electrical storm which visited this sec
ton of Cecil county Wednesday night
lightning disarranged some of the wires
at the substation of the Gilpin Falls Elec-
trio Light Company, located on the out
skirts of Elkton. Several hours afterward
the building was set on fire by the wires
and partially destroyed before the flames
were extinguished by the Singerly fire
company. AS result Elkton was with
out electric lights and the streets were in
total darkness. which condition will prob
ably continue the balance of the week.
although great haste is being made to re-
pair the damage. The loss is estimated at
about 81, 500.
Scared to Death by Storm.
NEW YORK. August TN the midst Of
yesterdays thunderstorm bolt of light
ming struck some metal work on the out
side of the house at 2447 Hoffman street.
the Bronx William U. Sherwood was ly-
ing in bed i'll with heart disease. and at
the stroke and peal of thunder he sprang
from the bed into which the lightning
fash darted, uttered cry and then fell
back on the bed.
Members Of his family ran in. and being
una BILE to revive him. sent for DR.. Post
Of Washington avenue and 10th street.
The physician said that Mr.. Sherwood
had died instantly of heart disease, the
fatal attack being superinduced by fright.
Mr. Sherwood was seventy-one years old.