Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-07-17
MAN A TARGET
OF FIERY BOLT
Robinson, While Leaning
Against Pole, Is Tossed In
to Street by Lightning
POST OFFICE BUILDING
employees GET SCARE

Wilmington was visited by terrific
thunder and rain storm shortly be-
fore noon today. and from 1890 until
lilo o'clock one and three-tenths in
ches Of rain fell. Rain had been fall
ing about fifteen minutes when
binding fash lighted the darkened'
skies. and in almost the same instant
terrific clap Of thunder made build
ings fairly tremble. Horses stand,
Ing quiet enough in the downpour Of
rain. started as if struck with a whip
at the sudden clap, and several run
aways were narrowly averted. People
who had sought refuge from the rain
in doorways in Market street, turned
pale at the shock. Nothing like It
has been heard in this city for long
time.
The lightning struck one man and
several buildings. including the post
Office and Court House. causing con-
siderable excitement in both. The
man was Hillery Robinson. but he
was not injured Lightning also en-
tered the plant Of the saylor Show
Print, in Shipley street. above Fourth.
putting that place in a turmoil
At the postofilce lightning entered
the portion Of the building on shipley
street. probably by a wire. and in an
instant the lights in the cage of the
elevator went out. and there was a
5 brilliant display of fire around tho
, iron work Of the elevator, the noise
{ made by the electric sparks sounding
like shooting crackers. William q.
y Mcintyre. who operated the machine,
y had Just stepped from the cage
3 In the wash-room and toilet in the
basement the room was brilliantly
- lighted, but none of the men In the
, place at the time was effected.
+ In the Office Of the Collector OF
o Port on the third floor of the building
3 Frederick A. Middletown. an inspector
IL of customs was seated by his desk
=, reading a newspaper when the hrst
~ clap occurred. Above his head was
u lighted electric bulb and lightning
passed into the room through this
AZ wire Mr. Middleton had his left hant
le on line with his head holding up the
e. paper and the electricity entered thai
NJ arm through the tip Of his fingers
I'd The arm was benumbed by the shock
I'd and remained in that condition for
more than an hour.
e. Sparks flew from an electric light
,e wire I'm the Office of Leslie V. Christy.
le secretary Of the Street and Sewer
Department but nobody was hurt nor
= did the shock cause any damage.
y y The person most seriously injured
n by lightning was Hillery Robinson,
colored. of No. 225 Nancy street. He
was leaning against a telegraph pole
at Front and West streets when
shocked by a bolt Of lightning coming
I, down the pole. The man was hurled
4 into the street by the force Of the
shock. The patrol wagon was sum-
moned and took him to his home
e. where he was revived.
y, Printer Gets a Shock.
The Saylor Show Print was in atur-
- moil for a few minutes while the
"a storm was in progress. A lightningibolt
entered the building over telephone
wire and following the wire through
- out the building badly scared the
n printers who we're at work there. A.
IA r. Saylor had just left the telephone
m when the bolt entered. The building
was not damaged
er Court Gets Shake Up.
Following the heavy clap Of thunder
" lightning struck a wire in King street
le above Tenth Immediately afterwards
20 there was considerable excitement in
" the Court House Offices. In the Office
ne Of Clerk Of the Peace lightning flashed
se i'm several directions. There is a
lamp on the desk Of Robert Arm
strong. who at the time was IN the
Farmers Bank making a deposit. The
lightning ran along tho wire from the
"A chandelier to a point within a foo
" Of the lamp where the wire parted
The lightning melted .he copper wire
In the officer Of Register in Chan
f. cery lightning shot out from the tele
he phone box, but did not harm anybody
ri In the other offices the Lightning
X played about the telephone and cleo
As trio light wires, but did no damage.
= At the DUPONT hotel site work wal
he discontinued and the carts that hae
~ haan hauling avvqv thp earth Weu