Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-25
Severest Electric Storm
For Many Months.
Lightning Strikes Root Pipe
On The Opera House.
The Nall Smashss Wlndows-.Strseis
Flooded-.cars Held Up.

Augusta was visited for about half
an hour, Friday night. with an unusu-
ally severe electrical and hail storm.
Lightning struck tine Opera house,
sewers backed up, steam and electric
cars were held up by dirt and gravel
washed across the tracks and glass
was broken in houses in different parts
of the city. Bright lights were seen to
the eastward and the southwest of the
city, indicating that lightning had set
fire TO buildings at those points. Rural
telephone lines were out of commission.
however, making it impossible to To-
cate the fires.
The storm came at the close of
day characterized by mugginess and
high temperature and more seasonable
TO August than May. The shower.
which came in the middle of the after
noon, would have been considered Sc
we're one had 1t not been for the one
in the evening. alongside of which the
former one was hardly worth mention
ing.
The storm began about 9.15 and in
half dn hour was all over but during
fer few minutes to hail. The hail
stones were in some instances three
quarters of an inch in diameter. Five
panes Of glass were broken by the
hail in the house of Leander N Worth
ing, q Capitol street. and broken glass
WAS reported In several other sections
of the city.
The bolt which struck the Opera
40, abe, a Or N
a large audience was present at the
moving pictures. The crash was
plainly heard by the audience, al
though few in the Opera house had
any idea that the building was struck
John B. Gagnon, who operates the
moving picture machine, heard the
crash and saw binding fash of
light With rare presence of mind he
shut off his machine and gave the
audience a quick Good Night" The
crowd, but few of whom had any
idea what had happened, left the
theater in a quiet, orderly manner
without any suspicion of panic.
The sound of running water imme-
diately following the striking of the
building caused the theater employees
to think that possibly water pipe
had burst.
Water was found to be running into
one of the dressing rooms and pour
ing down upon the stairs Of the rear
balcony exit Investigation showed
that the lightning had struck on the
roof. knocking the cap from one OF
the girder pipes and causing. with
the rush of water and gravel from
the roof, the overflow of the pipe.
The piastering was soaked around the
balcony stairs but so far as could be
ascertained no water got into the
stores below. Neither the balcony nor
the main floor we're affected by the
water and Manager Cuddy will he
able to go on with his regular bill.
Saturday afternoon and evening, as ii
nothing had happened.
The backing up of the sewer at the
foot of Court street honeycombed the
concrete sidewalk on the western side
of the street. making 1t necessary to put
planks and rocks In the holes to keep
pedestrians from falling through them.
A thoughtful pedestrian put lighted
lantern at one of the holes, but the next
person that came along stepped on 1T
and knocked 1t over Dirt and rocks
were washed down upon the eastern side
of Bangor street nearly three inches deep
| for some little distance
Car 43, an eght-wheeled open car OF
| the L., A. & W. St Ry., leaving here
| for Gardiner at $50. was held for half an
| hour. while street railway employees
shoveled away the dirt and gravel that
| had washed over the track at the foot
| of Rines hill. Trouble with the wires
| caused other delays at various points
along the line
Maine Central freight train No. 1888 was
held up, at $3.50 r. M. near the overhead
| bridge, on account of two feet of mud
which had washed over the track and
| which it was necessary for the train
Continued on Page Twelve.)