The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-26
Fruit Trees in Chesterfield In
jured ana Growing Crops
Frustrated
FIRE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING
Freight Cars Robbed-Curious
Phcnomenon-Other Peters
burg News.
Times-Dispatch Bureau.
8 Boiling brook Street.
Phone 1855.



Petersburg. VA. July %
The electrical storm which swept
over TINS section early last evening
was raore SEVERE IN the country around
heavier and the wind higher over "a
Chesterfield. few miles from the CITY.
lIult trees We're damaged. fruit blown
10 the ground. and the grONV!n.- crops
trees We're unrooted and the growing
corn leyoled with The ground.
rhc burned Niliims i'Imnt.
lightning caused the destruction of
the large plant Of the COckAdc city.
Milling Company. ON Canal street en-
falling loss OF some $4,000 lrs3D.-
ins ON tne main WIry, which irrnished
the power tcr operating the NTH, set
ting fire 10 the interior.
The building was % ftvc-Story struc-
iure. compaiatiVely uew. and equipped
with modern mAcAinery. The company
rid q larse business. extending into
several States & large stock OF corn
and meal was consumed Nothing was
left OF the BIG building but tottering
walls and ruined machiuery. Tho
property was well insured
inc main high-power wire connect
ms the bis power plant ct the Yin
sinia Railway and Power Company at
the locks in Diuwiddie. with the
COMPANIES plant in TINS city. ana fur
nishes electric lights and power for tho
street railway. was burned out 10y the
intense heat OF the fire. and in con
darkness for several hours The cars
running on the various street lines
We're STOPPED. and 1t was not until
about II O'Clock. after the wire had
been repaired and the current restored.
COULD the cars be moved
The Seaboard Air Line trostle on
Canal street was saved from damage
boy very careful watching ana the use
Of fire hose The fire department div
sood work in saving buildings near
the fire from destruction. SiN houses
We're slightly scorchod but were s<Vcd
from serious damage The burned mill
was the property OF the Virginia Rail-
leased by the Cockade City Milling
Company. several years ago "A large
mill At the basin. belonging to the
railway and power company, was
burned. but was subsequently, rebuilt.
Narrow Escape From Lightning.
Robert l. Bowman. well known
druegi of this city, his brother Geo.
Bowman. and the latters son had Il
narrow escape from death by lightn-
Ing bolt last evening. They had been
fishing down tho country and were re-
storm They stopped at tho home OF
H. wv. slate, about one milo beyond
Kcams. in Dinwidd!e, where they were
Welcomed ana taken In until the storm
should pass While seated in ono OF
The rooms ann not tar from tho fro
place. the whole party We're shocked
which struck and shattered tho Chin
ney and descended through tho house
t. the ground. Every opa In tho house
Was temporarily severely shocked and
badly frishtened. and their escape from,
dcath or serious injury was "a very
close one
-Four senbonrd Cnrs Robbed.
Some time last night tho seals on
four loaded cars Oh the Seahoard sir
Line tracks. just outside Of the wcsst-
crn portion of the city. We're broken
boy thieves and tho cars entered and
obed OF goods 10 the value of $500
or more The contents OF the ears
were scattered about. and clothing,
SHOES. cigars. silver Ware chewing
gum. etc, We're taken. The party %;
thieves must have numbered i've OF
siX persons Five suits of castaway
clothes, exchanged for new suits taken
from tho cars. were left near the track
10 clue as 10 the robbers has yet been
found.
Sycamore street Robbery.
John W. phnlips'S liquor store on
sycamore street was robbed CARLY this
morning 81 SIS in money and SONS
liquor. When Nj Redmond the bar
keeper onencd the store this morning
at o'clock, ne heard noise u tIe
rear. a,,f going back 10 investigate
saw j. n-e4o rush out and disappoai
through window ON examination
10 was found That tho iron grating OF
The window had been prl2"d opcn Tho