Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-07
Follows Electrical Storm
At Wakefield, Mass.
Cutler Block and Stale ArmOTy
Burned 0lher Damage.
Numerous Casualties by lightning
and Fire-.Loss $4,000.

| Wakefield. Mass July 6.---The elec-
trieal storm which broke with crash
| over the town of Wakefield tonight
carried fire and horror in it's wake and
| threatened for several hours to devas-
| tate the heart of the town With the
first appearance of the storm came a
bolt of lightning which struck and set
| fire to the n. T.. Cutler block, contain
| ing the Cutler grain mill and box fac
| tory. The block was consumed and
/ the fire spread to the State armory of
| the crack Co. A, 9th Mass. Volunteers.
which was also destroyed. although
most. of the arms were saved. Half a
dozen residences were set on fire from
sparks and more or less damaged.
The town hall, which is situated di-
rectly across Main street from the
Cutler block, was several times afire
and saved only by extreme efforts. The
Miller Piano Co, factory and the l.. B.
Evans Shoe Co, factory were afire at
times and suffered from fire and water
several persons were struck and stunned
by lightning and tiremen were burned and
scared by explosions in the grain mills
At the outset of the storm the fire
alarm apparatus WAS put out of commits
sion and the inability to get out the de-
partnient quickly allowed the IRE to get
Roadway. The telephone and electric car
service being likewise crippled, thu only
means OF securing help from outside was
by automobiles and through this means
word was communicated to Maiden, Read
ing, Woburn and Melrose, all of which
places sent men and apparatus
4 Frank WbqeIer ,uarkfnu until, tu,t,o.
fWigade on the roof of the Town hall. was
EoFeTcome by smoke and the heat and had
to be carried down and to his home. The
bucket brigade succeeded in keeping the
flames from making any Roadway on the
Towns capitol.
The factory of the Miller Piano Co.
was several times on fire. but the greatest
Eftamage was done by water The bucket
brigade also did splendid service in pre-
venting the fire frnm doing any serious
damage TO the L, h. Evans shoe factory
TO the west of the Cutler block on Water
street
: Miss Amelia Card of 5e7 Main street,
wfE. struck by lightning while standing IN
the haiway of her home. the bolt shoot
ing through the open .passageway She
was seriously hut not fatally injured Mrs.
Lena Smith, living at the same place, was
also stunned by the same bolt.
At the outset of the storm the town
was thrown into darkness by the in
terruption of the electric light service
While trolley cars became stalled nv
Ithe breaking of the electrical circuits
fon the.street railway lines of the Bos-
SsSon and Northern Road Charges. of
electricity swept along the trolley
wires entered at least two cars, one ip
the car approaching tke town. from
Montrose and the other a Lynn car.
causing panic among: the passen-
gers -
The total damage caused by the
storm is estimated at s75.eD0 The loss
on the Cutler block, including the
bowling alleys. grains store and box
shop was Saigon; on the State Arnory
10000, while the remaining damage
from fire and water on the otfer build !
ihgs viii amount to another SIS, 900.