Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-08-22
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING,


Another Severe Electric Storm Wis.,
its Hancock County.
The summer of 1917 will pass down in
storms. More damage has been done by
lightning in Hancock county the past few
weeks than in years before.
Monday evenings storm was one OF the
most severe yet, though Of shorter dura-
tion and not so widespread. Right in
Ellsm orth no damage was done, the
shower at this point apparently travelling
in the higher attitudes.
The most severe damage in this vicinity
was to the house Of Capt. Roland Bonsey
on the Surry road. The bolt struck the
chimney, and at the same time two trees
standing near the house. A hole was
torn in the roof, the ratters being ripped
10 splinters. The plastering was torn
from one OF the chambers on the second
floor, and from the dining-room on the
ground floor. The outside OF the building
was also damaged. The house did not
catch fire. The loss is estimated at $500.
Capt. Bonsey, who was sleeping in one of
the rooms on the lower floor, receive q
severe shock, but none OF the others in
the house was injured.
Lightning also struck tree in Wood
bine cemetery, and one bolt struck two
trees in the cemetery at North Ellsworth.
At Surry lightning struck the barn Of
the Knowles place, owned by Mrs. Daniel
Mckay, setting fire to the building. The
fire soon spread to the house, which was
connected with the barn, and all the
buildings we're burned fiat. The house
was unoccupied at the time, Capt. and
Mrs. Mckay occupying the apartments
above their store.
A part Of the furniture was saved from
the house, but the contents OF the barn,
which was veritable storehouse for
furniture, carriages, sleighs, harnesses,
etc., owned by Capt. Mckay and others,
we're destroyed. There was partial in
surance on buildings snd furniture.
The burned buildings, known as the
Knowles place, had been greatly i'm
proved, and was one OF the most attrac-
tive places in Surry village.
Another bolt struck the house OF Jesse
Conary, not far away. Mr.. and Mrs.
Consry were just going up stairs when
the bolt struck. Mrs. Conary, who was
near the head OF the stairs, was knocked
senseless by the bolt, falling backward
down the stairs and carrying Mr.. Conary
with her. The lightning started fire in
the sheathing s5out the chimney, but Mr..
Conary, after first giving his attention to
Mrs. Consry, placing her on a couch, sue
ceeded in eAtinguishing the flames. Mrs.
Conary is still in a serious condition from
the shock and fall.
At Waltham, four sheep owned by Asa
Colby we're killed in the pasture, where
they had huddled beneath tree.
Strangely, there WIS no indication that
lightning had struck the tree, or any
where in the vicinity.
| At Prospect Herbor the buildings OF
Welch Moore were struck and burned.
At Bluehiil the house of Mrs. Carrie E.
Bayard was struck, the chimney knocked
of, hole torn in the roof, and the house
! pretty generally racked.
1 At East Lamoine lightning struck a
telephone pole near the house OF Hoyt L,
Smith, and followed the wires into the
house, jumping to the water pipes and do
| ing considerable damage in the bath
room. Mrs. Smith, alone in the house at
the time, escaped injury.
At Penobscot the barn OF Pearl Hutch
ings was struck and burned, with con-
tents, including three cows. The loss
is estimated st 3, 900.