Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-08-06

IN"~1NN-
morning was the most destructive of
the summer. No particular damage
was done in town, but the electrical
flashes played along the trolley wires
and the heavy claps Of thunder SEEM
ed to shake the buildings on their
foundations.
In the country a number of barns
were struck and two in this vicinity
were burned to the ground.
BARN BURNED DERRY.
About twelve O'Clock lightning
struck the barn of William McQuay,
near Blee S school house in Derry town
ship. The family were all asleep but
were awakened by the loud report and
looking from the window saw the barn
ON fire.
Mr.. McQuay, with the help of neigh
bors rescued all his stock except the
chickens. All the farm machinery was
saved except farm wagon The crop
of oats had just been brought into the
barn, the wagon that was destroyed
containing the last load. The hay and
straw was also burned. The wheat and
rye was in a separate building and was
not burned.
The other buildings and the house
were saved by bucket brigade. Mr..
McQuay estimates his loss at about
s120O He carried $4OO insurance on
the barn. The contents were partly
covered.
DANIEL HUGHES BARN.
This barn of Daniel Hughes in Mad
ison township, Columbia county, about
two miles from White Hall, was also
struck and completely destroyed with
nearly all of its contents.
The barn was fine new structure
with corn crib nearby Mr.. Hughes
succeeded in saving only his cows. He
lost three horses, all his machinery,
his entire crops of hay and wheat and
a quantity of rye. He carried no in
surance.
STRUCK NEAR GRovANIA.
The barn on the farm of A. 2.
Schoch, of Bloomsbury, situated a
quarter of mile this side Of Grov-
ania, and occupied by William Krum,
was struck but not set on fire. Sever
al boards torn loose was the extent of
the damage
OLD TREE SHATTERED.
The great chestnut tree on the Toby
Run road about half mile from the
farm of J. P. Weaver, a veritable giant
and a patriarch among trees, was
struck by lightning Tuesday night and
shattered to fragments.
The tree was regarded as very old.
The octogeuarians of this section can
not recall time when the big tree
was not landmark 1t was regarded
as at least hundred years old.
Although it bore chestnuts the fruit
was inaccessible, until blown down
by the wind, owing to the immense
size Of the tree, which in addition to
its height was of enormous girth.
Shortly before midnight Tuesday a
fash of lightning occurred that eclips-
ed all Others in intensity. The peal of
thunder that instantly followed indi-
Gated that the electric fluid had struck
somewhere in the vicinity of Toby Run
hollow.
| Mr.. Weaver yesterday morning was
one Of the first TO pass along the road
by the side of which the chestnut
grew. To his amazement the big tree
was missing. 1t was shattered to frag-
land. The lower part of the ponder
Gus trunk remained, but the way even
this part was rent and splintered in
dicated how heavy had been the bols
of lightning that leveled the tree to
the ground.
SEVEN BARNS BURNED
The storms were particularly severe
in the West Branch valley Including
! the damage done in that section there
were in all nine barns struck. seven
being totally destroyed by fire. Three
/ barns in Sugar Valley were struck
within few minutes of one another
and all We're burned to the ground.
They belonged to John Rishell, Jacob
Roger and Frank Barner The barns
are about a mile and a half distant,
each from the other. In every instance
all OF this season. S crops were burned.
The barn of George Fisher, near
/ Williamsport, was struck and with all
the contents was destroyed. The build
ing was new one and fine structure.
/ The loss in this case will be S25, 900.
/ The barn on the farm of Cyrus Miller,
near Elimsport. was also burned. All
the crops and farming implements and
one calf were lost. The wagon shed
with its contents was also burned.
Taken to Bloom Hospital.