Evening journal., 1913-06-17
STORM AFTER
HEAT MAKES
CITY DARK
Lightning Bolt Out Of ClOuded
Sky Puts Lighting Plant
Out of Commission
ONE PROSTRATION
AFTER EXCESSIVE HEAT

After a day OF heat that sapped the !
energy Of those who were compelled
to be ON the street under tie blister
ine hot sun. or at work in hot shops,
terrhc lightning and thunder
storm broke over Wilmington last
night aud Tor time. there was
breath o, relief The expected wind
that usually comes With storm did
not matTiallze. However. and the few
drops uf ain tsas fell only served to
nuke ilu humidity greater. Sleep
war almost impossible ~ the lower
sections and tlickly settled parts Cf
the ciiy aud humanity suffered. A.
midughl a thermometer IN the rear
yard ct resident living Ia a high
section un the vest side of the city
registered 80 degrees. and there was
uot q breath OF air stirring.
The storm broke over the city
about $40 aud the binding flashes
Ol Tightening followed by terrific
thu. t.i claps as the elements travel
ud across heaven III battle array,
served to s,rd the people scurrying
from porchcs and front steps. II
seemed that the two storms met over
the "its. each contosting the way Of
the other. aud the cracks OF thunder
and nashes uf lire when they came
together we're I .rful. One storm
seemed to have come from the west
and the other lOwn the Delaware
river.
ih the midst OF the battle of the
elements there WAS sudden crash
aud the ncAt instant every electric
light in the city went out Light
Ling had struck the No I plant Of
the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company on tho Brandy
VINO The fiery ball entered the
building and spread over the huge
switchboard and then over through
Tic machines aud finally over the
several circuits. Fortunately no fire
resulted and none OF The employees OF
the company was hurt. Within an
hour the company's regular force Oi
iuen had made repairs and lighting
current was again passing though the
wires. with the exception OF what Is
Known as the Gilpin avenue circuit
THIS circuit was much more damaged
tLan the others.
Trolley cars were stalled for time
hai were soon supplied with power
and traffic restored.
Tic worst effect of the lightning
was felt by the passengers on Nes
Eighth street car of the Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company
The car was passing Eighth ant
l~ra ufa4
lund report aud flash that blindei
not only the passengers, but every
one in that vicinity.
The bolt struck the car and tn
shock hurled from their seats into tn
street Marie Shanlcr. aged l3 years, o
1903 Pennsylvania avenue, and Philil
Leshem, of Thirteenth and KIM
streets. Both sustained injuries e
their arms and we're bruised abou
the body They were removed &
their homes and physicians called T.
uttend them. woman passenge
tainted. but was not injured. other
were said TO have been slightl
shocked.
Lightning struck some OF the mr.
alarm reporting wires in the north
eastern section of the city. One cir
Gait. No. 4. WAS thrown out OF com
mission, but superintendent GIay am
his assistant. David Gray, quickl
made repaira.
The lightning struck TELEGRAPH
pole at Pen. sylvania avenue anc du
l'out street and set fire to a switc
hox at the top. There was a spec
iacnlar blaze high iu the air unit
the fire was oxtinguished
All heat records for day in Jun
were broken At o o'clock yesterda
afternoon the Thermometer registere
9s degrees In the shade The ther
rometer at the dooi Of the polio
garage ia the reaFnof lhe city hal
registered 1O4 in the shade at tn
same hour Another thermometer
iho sun at the window of the Boar
5ellth offices registered 1875.
only one case OF heat prostrstio
vas reported al the local hospital
Mrs Annie Wright, said to be car
vasser WAS overcome while
Eighth and Market streets yesterds
afternoon She fell unconscious an
had 10 he removed to the DelawaI
Hospital where she was revived