Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-07-17
Whistle of Fire Alarm Sys-
tenn Rendered Useless by
Lightning Yesterday.
AT N. J. TERRA GOTTA
Louis Briggs Residence Was
Struck by a Bolt and
Incurred Damage.
PANIC ON THE WATER
Sea Girt State Camp Suffer-
ed and Many Tents Were
Blown Down.

tOss
The terrific electrical storm that
ragged over this section yesterday
afternoon did much damage both on
land and water. The downpour Of
rain that accompanied 1t flooded the
city's streets in places, yet they were
most welcome showers, for the farm
ers of this section of the country
were reaching crisis. Crops of
every description have been partially
ruined during the past few weeks.
Lightning and thunder came with
the storm and the first bolt to land
in this city struck Louis Briggs
house at Market street and Kearny
avenue. Another damaged the fire
alarm whistle and it will require
three or four days for repairs. The
downpour of rain was so great that
all along New Brunswick avenue
the sewers were unable to take the
surface drainage and for a period of
ten or fifteen minutes after the
storm had subsidized the thoroughfare
was literally flooded.
At Fayette and State streets the
basin at the southwest corner beT
came clogged and Street Comm1s-
sioner Adair went to the homes of
some of his men and secured a gang
to work there last night. They
worked until after midnight, giving
the basin a thorough cleaning.
Throughout the city basins here
and there were flooded and in many
places the sewers were unable to
take all the drainage.
The storm early yesterday after
noon was the most terrific. The
lightning flashes were keen and
struck several times in and about
this city. The thunder that accom-
panied it was heavy.
At the BRIGGS Residence.
The bolt that struck Louis Briggs
residence hit the chimney and went
to the bottom of it, blowing out the
hearth plate ana scattering scot all
over the parlor. The occupants OF
the house did not know It had struck
their home until Mrs. BRIGGS went
into the cellar afterwards and saw
smoke everywhere. She went upstairs
to look for fire, but found none.
Upon entering the parlor 1t was seen
what the storm had done. The dam
age to the chimney and parlor is
considerable, as the carpet and much
of the furniture Is ruined.
The lightning struck somewhere
along the line of the city's fire alarm
system and the most damage was
caused at the New Jersey Terra Gotta
plant. where one of the two t1re
alarm whistles is stationed. The
bolt entered the coil and mechanism
used to sound the whistle, when an
alarm is given, and literally fused
the coils, wiring, ETC., into one mass
of useless metal. Similar damage
was caused in some fire alarm boxes
throughout the city, but the Public
Service has that size of coils in stock
here and these repairs were made
without delay. Superintendent Huf-
nagle sent a trouble-hunting gang
out immediatly yesterday and locat-
ed the trouble. The alarm rang
twice when the coil was struck.
Here and there throughout the
CITY parts of trees were blown down
by the storm and in many places
chimneys were damaged.
Havoc on the Water.
The storm played havoc with fish
ing and pleasure parties that were
out yesterday afternoon and the
rough sea caused boats to be tossed
Dabout, causing slight damage IN
some instances.
When the first indications Of the
electrical storm were seen fishing
and boating parties hurried for
shore In many instances they did
not reach land before the storm was
upon them and then the wind and
seas prevented some of them from
rowing in the directions they wished.
Many parties were drenched and
some had thrilling experiences. A
powerboat was helplessly driven to
the shores of Staten Island.
Electric wires of every descrip-
tion were damaged to some extent.
The storm caused considerable trou-
BILE with the New York & New Jersey
telephone service. Wires were blown
down in South Amboy and the south
ern end of, Staten Island and appa-
ratus of the company used in the SER
vices was damaged. But tritiing
damage was sustained by the cleo
trio lighting system of the city. No
circuits were out of working order
last night.
Mike Deliman, of 767 State street,
reported to Patrolman Kozusko at
$40 O'Clock last night that the trunk
sewer running past his place was
stopped up during the storm yester-
day and was emitting unbearable
odors. The residents in the imme-
diate vicinity were compelled to
close their windows because of the
stencil.
Continued or page A.
NO ADVERTISING little
later. NO STORE.