Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-06-04
DAMAGE by LIGHTNING.

The buildings of Isaac Thomas, si.uat-
ed about two miles from Bellows Falls.
were struck by lightning during the
night of May 26 and burned to the
ground, killing five Jersey cows, three
calves, two pigs and some hens. The
farming implements were also destroyed.
The loss was partially covered by insur-
ance.
The most severe electrical storm in
years passed over Waterbury last week
Tuesday. A downpour OF rain and con-
siderable wind accompanied it, the storm
playing havoc with shade trees and demo-
ralizing the electric lighting system.
Wires were down and street lights dis
mantled, leaving everything in darkness
except the hospital, which is lighted by
its isolated plant, and the Waterbury
Inn, with its array of candles. The
storm lifted a slate from a roof and car
ried it through window in house OPP
posite. Lightning struck ID. w. Corley's
house, doing little damage, the O'Clair &
Anair stone shed, putting the crane out
of commission, snd E. L. Marbles barn
in Duxbury, beside several trees.
Following a wonderful display OF auro-
ra borealis between midnight and day
light in Richford Tuesday of last wee k,
lutTt " hs MI titCtTlCdi ttOTItl Vi COHslutT-
able length and magnitude in the late
afternoon. A large amount OF rain fell
and the lightning played some pranks
with telephone and electric light wires.
The chimney on Gilbert Goff,s house was
struck and part OF the bricks knocked to
the ground.
A new barn on the farm Of Homer Car
man on the Swanton road, was struck by
ls0hf nj ha Thopo uyoa M
fire, but the bolt shattered the building
badly and portions of it will have to be
entirely rebuilt. The lightning killed q
valuable horse which was in stall In
the barn, and Carl Sartwell, an employees
of Mr.. Carman, who was in the stall at
the time, was stunned so that he re-
manned unconscious for over half an
hour. Mr.. Carman, who was upstairs in
the barn, was also stunned but was not
rendered unconscious and he was able to
assist others in restoring young Sartwell
to consciousness.
Lightning set fire to the Consolidated
Lighting company's sub-station in Mont
pelier and for time there was consider
able apprehension. When the firemen
were about ready to turn on stream OF
water, someone recalled that there was
much danger, as the electricity might be
communicated from the machinery in the
building, via the stream of water, to the
nozzlemen on the hose. So they desisted
until the power had been turned of.
Then the work OF extinguishing the blaze
with hand extinguisher was easy. The
damage was not heavy.
A bolt did considerable damage to the
house of J. j. Seguin near the Middlesex
Center cemetery, going into it from tree
standing nearby. The bark was torn of
the tree first. Then the current smashed
several panes of glass and tore of much
plaster. Mr.. Seguin was knocked down
and stunned, while his wife also felt the
effect of the electricity.
During the thunder shower, lightning
struck the Baptist church in Windsor,
running down the spire to the church,
tearing OF the plastering of the front hall
and doing other damage. Mrs. +. H.
Kendall and Mrs. II. NJ. Morgan were
rendered unconscious by the shock, but
soon recovered. Lightning also struck
on Buena Vista during the shower, doing
considerable. damage.
Five COWS owned by p. F. Sanders OF
Calais, that were standing under q tree,
were instantly killed when lightning
struck the tree.