Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-07-14
DAMAGE AT PLANT HERE
Lightning Strikes Sub Power
Station in South Amboy-I
City Was in Darkness.
TROLLEY CAR IS STRUCK
Local People on Outing Find
Haven of Safety in Metuchen
Wires Still Down.

Wires Still Down.
A highly charged electric storm,
accompanied by a strong wind and
hail, swept over this city and vicinity
late yesterday afternoon, demoraliz-
ing trolley traffic on the Newark fast
line, the trolley service between this
city, New Brunswick, Woodbridge,
South Amboy and Keyport, caused
the blocking of receiving basins, fell
ed big trees and damaged electric
light and telephone service wires.
All through the county light and
telephone service wires were blown
down or severed by bolts of light
ming, and big trees were strewn
along different sections of the troll
ley tracks. In South Amboy the
electric lights we're out -.--sa@ :
oclocs.-rrtrM 10 O'Clock because the
lightning played havoc with the
breakers at the sub-power station OF
the Middlesex and Monmouth Elec-
trio Light, Heat & Power Company,
located at South Amboy.'
Six windows were smashed in by
blasts of wind at the Raritan plant
of the National Fireproofing Com
pany, two stock sheds in the yard
of the works blown down, and an
idle smoke stack felled. Though
the lightning did not strike the
plant the wind played general havoc
about the buildings. The damage
was slight and did not cause ces-
sation of work, according to Victor
Main, superintendent OF the plant.
Telephone communication be-
tween New Brunswick, East Mill
stone, Franklin Park and Middle
brush was practically severed by the
effects of the storm. Several lines
were put out of commission in
Woodbridge, South Amboy and a
dozen stations in this city. Light
ming struck the barn of George Long
at Franklin Park and it was Destroy
ed, as was the barn of A. w. Totten,
of Middlebrush.
A party of local people on an out
ing at New Brunswick in big
truck took refuge at the home of C..
c. Campbell at Metuchen until the
rain ceased.
Lightning struck the electric lines
of the block system along the priv
ate right of way of the Newark fast
line, paralyzing same and stopping
cars at the different switches. Each
car waited at some switch along the
line after the signal service was rem
dered useless, with the result that
from $50 O'Clock until about 8
o'clock no express car moved on the
system between this city and New
ark. The telephone line connecting
h1oply ST atjnnQ along the
route was struck, and conductors
were unable to communicate with
them and learn the trouble of the
delay on the switches. Many COM
muters left the cars and walked to
the nearest railroad stations after
the storm had subsidized.
One Middlesex car on it's way to
New Brunswick, was struck by light
ming near the Central railroad cross
ing in this city, and its mechanism
put out of commission by resultant
short circuit. The car was towed to
the barns Another car between this
city and New Brunswick experience
ed similar trouble when it was hit
by lightning but was able to continue
It's route. Neither car was damaged
to any extent and no excitement
Lightning struck the sub-power
station at South Amboy and blew out
the breakers, with the result that
the city was in darkness until about
10 o'clock. From o'clock until s
there was such a little power in the
feed line along the trolley system
that the green cars actually crawled
to and from the city. At the Offices
of fbo Jorcov Central antiou Corp
pany at Keyport it was said that the
service was continued uninterrupt-
edly, though the cars ran slow dur
ing those hours.
Two trees were struck by light
ming in Broadway, just south of
Main street, South Amboy, tying up
the Public Service traffic beyond that
point. The cars could not get by the
blockade until about o'clock, dur
ing which time they had practically
no power from the Jersey Ger
feed wires and were compelled to
lay off for time. Sand and water
surging over the trolley tracks on the
Public Service lines between this
city and New Brunswick and South
Amboy and the county seat caused
number of delays.
A big tree was struck by lightning
and blown across the walk in High
street, near Woodruff place shortly
after o'clock, causing a crash that
was heard through the neighborhood
Sewers overfowed at Neville and
Jaques streets and Neville and John
stone streets A plate glass win
dow was blown In during the blast of
wind at 349 Smith street, in build
ing owned by Hyman Wedeen. Pa
trolman Seiboth notified the owner
and the window was barricaded.