The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-10
STAMFORD MUCH DAMAGE RESULTS
 FROM ELECTRICAL STORM
Bolt Kills Two Horses at Lordship Electromagnetic Church
 Spire Struck.

Stratford, May 10-The weather bu- reau yesterday furnished a variety of conditions. The day was success sion of thunder storms and sunshine A shower which reached the town at o'clock was particularly fierce and did much damage. Accompanied by q 6eafening report a bolt struck the Gteaple of the Congregational church tearing off the slate and putting all the wiring iq the building out of com mission. The current followed the 1ee~of the fire alarm service to the 1S&@k66se and to the home of Chief Alan JudsOn in the Reed building. All the electric lights in the church were burned out and also those on the streets and in the stores. The telephones in many places were also put out of business. The damage to the Congregational church is estimat- ed at about $100. The fire alarm ser- vice is also rendered imperative. At the home of Chief Judson, the walls were scorched and Mrs. Judson, who was alone at home, was badly fright ened. The bolt left the fire alarm wire in the house and followed the telephone. wire. Witnesses say that the bolt appeared as a ball of white lire rolling down the spire of the church to the ground.
 At LOrdship Park during the same shower a pair of horses owned by
 
 driver had tied his horses to an oak tree when the shower came up and sought shelter. A road scraper was attached to the horses. The bolt struck the tree and when the owner reached the place both of the animals were dead He was building roads at. the Park for the Wilkenda Land Company when the storm came up. A tree in front of the residence of Samuel Lewis in the north end was struck and the top cut off.
 All day long the weather conditions gave evidence of a superabundance of electricity in the atmosphere. AL though the clouds were black and threatening they contained more light ming than rain. The repair gangs of the electric light and telephone com pantes were on the scene a short time after the shower and before night everything was in working order again. Work on the fire alarm sys- tenn was also begun
 Yesterday Constable Bassett arrest cd five additional members of "Chesty Jins" army Of invasion, and brought them before Judge Charles H. Peck for trial on charges of breach of the peace and injury to property. The boys ranged from IT to 21 years of age and were part Of the crowd which came over the line on Tuesday night and arining themselves with the pickets on the fences in the route laid ter Heights boys. Judge Peck gave the boys a lecture and warned them that if they were caught here again on a lawless expedition he would send them to jail without any alternative. 'fChesty Jim caused considerable amusement by his explanation of his terrifying title. His name is James JOshick and he appeared to be a good natured chunk of humanity. The oth- CT boys were William Shea, Frank GOerig, John Barrett and Robert Bar rett- The boys promised to stay away from Stratford An armistice has been signed by 'Chesty Jim'' of the Car Barn cuirassieres, and Roderick Dhu of the Highlanders, and hostili- ties will cease, at least until the pres- ent agitation has subsided
 In the death of Charles F. Braitling, Stratford loses one of it's most tall ented residents. MT. Braitling was 1840. AS a young man he came to America and settled in Bridgeport 50 years ago. Tn Paris he learned the processes which have made that city famous for it's handsome dolls and toys Young Braitling was of an in- ventive turn and improved on the French process. He simplified the work by the invention of patterns and machinery. At the time of his death he was the head of Braitling Manufacturing company of Middle street, Bridgeport( which has the rep- utation of producing the finest dolls in this country and excelling even the Paris productions in many respects. For many years the company occu- pied rooms in the Booth block here, but removed to Bridgeport several years ago. Mir. Braitling was thor olglly educated in both German and French as well as English, and was an authority on the literature of all