The Detroit times., 1908-08-05
MERCURY TRAVELS
Up FAST AFTER
SHOWERS
ELECTRICAL STORMS BRING TEN
PoRABY RELIEF FROM BLISTER
ING HEAT-TWo FIRES RE-
SUIT FROM LIGHTNING.

Temporary relief from the long-coh-
tinued hot spell came Tuesday night
when dense black clouds rolled UP
from the west, accompanied by an
elaborate display OF pyrotechnics, anu
bestowed on the parched earth
much-needed baptism. II was like the
application OF cold cloths TO a fevereo
brow. Residents watched the storm
approach from their verandas. rerus-
ing to 20 inside until the clouds actual
ly broke and the descending rain
forced them TO seek shelter.
From rs degrees at O'Clock the
mercury dropped to 50 degrees at .
O'Clock. and for the first night In sew
eral 1t was cool enough to sleep In
comfort.
The sun came out again. Wednes-
day morning. and mercury began 10
climb soon afterwards. The mercury
Indicated nearly 10 degrees coler in
the early hours Of the afternoon thar
on Tuesday, but the increased humid
ity made the relief slight.
While Tuesday nights storm
brought its benefits to the masses TO
some II was fraught with trouble
Lightning struck two buildings during
a belated thunder shower about l
o'clock Wednesday morning. doing
considerable damage and giving the
occupants a bad scare.
Lightning Fires Building.
Owing 10 the violence OF the STORM,
the family OF Theodore Harms. occu-
pying apartments over the hardware
store OF Theodore Harms a. Son, NO
2i25 Fort-st. west, remained up late.
fearing TO go to bed. About l:l5
bolt OF lightning struck the nag pole
on the building, two-story 1ramc
structure, and at once started DiaZe
I'm the roof. While those In the house
realized that the bolt had come very
close they were not aware that 1t nae
struck over their heads until a neigh
Dor came running over 10 tell that the
building was on fire.
The occupants were Mrs. Harms,
Miss Emma Harms and Colley Myers
an adopted son, and they lost no time
i'm getting into the street. An alarm
was turned In as soon as possible, out
when the department arrived the
flames had secured good start anu
the roof and upper part OF the building
were blazing fiercely. The hremdn
succeeded In putting the fire out before.
IL had spread to the adjoining stores.
Mr.. Harms loss is between $4,000 and
$4,000, covered by insurance.
A. N. Parents rooming house, a
three-story structure at No. 81 Mont
calm-st. east. was struck by lightning
about 1870 O'Clock Wednesday morn
ing and Immediately a panic ensued
among the 20 roomers. The more ex-
citable ones rushed out OF the place III
their night clothes and one man, at
tired only in his pajamas. made pee
line for the nearest fire alarm box.
The bolt set fire to the roof. but the
blaze was promptly extinguished by
the department The damage Is slight
Two Heat Prostrations.
Tuesdays maximum temperature
was go degrees at o'clock, three de-
prees short OF Mondays record, but
Increased humidity caused much sur
fering and two prostrations were re-
ported. Miss Marie Fisher. cashier In
the penny arcade In Riverview Park.
was overcome while at work, shortly
before 3 o'clock, and was removed, IN
East End ambulance, to st. Mary
hospital. where she soon revived.
Walter McGill, aged so. OF No. log
Porter.st.. succumbed to the heat at
Joseph Campau.ave. and Waterloo-st.
and was removed to ST. Mary's In
serious condition. He regained con-
sciousness later and is now recovering.