New Britain herald., 1917-08-22
PlafnVille News VETERAN REGISTRAR
 OF VOTERS IS DEAD Isaac P. Newell Had Held Office
 Over Thirty Years
 WORST STORM IN YEARS

WORST STORM IN YEARS Rain Falls as from Cloudburst. Driv- ing Everyone Indoors.-Idttle Dan1- age Here.-Usher May Be Headed for War.Zone Waters.
 Isaac P. Newell, a veteran renublic- an who served the town of Plainville ior more than thirty years as regis 1iar or voters and who also represent ed this place in the Connecticut Gen. eral Assembly during one term. died last night at the New Britain General Hospital of complication of diseases colncldent with advanced years. Mr. NeWell was 75 years of age. The fu-
 neral arrangements have not been completed.
 Than MT. Newell there was not a oetter Known or more staunch repub- l1can in the town. Born in Southing- ton. near the town line, three quarters or a century ago, he spent practically his entire life in this immediate vicin- ity and as a youth affiliated himself with the republican party During his SAA"~A V Ne"A in all political campaigns and was ,al- ways a hard and earnest worker for the C.. O. P. More than thirty years ago he was elected by the townspeople as republican registrar of voters and held that position continuously until the time of his death. Other politi- cal honors were also accorded this vet eran republican and he was elected as representative to the General Assem- ply, serving one term at the capitol. For half century MT. Newell was employed at the Sessions Clock fac tory in Forestville and despite his ad- vanced years continued to attend to his duties there until a few weeks ago, when i'll health compelled him to cease his labors. He was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, man in point of service on the roll of the factory's employees. Fraternally MT. Newell was also we'll known, having been affiliated with the Frederick Lodge of Masons and the Order of United American Me- chanics.
 Two daughters and one son survive him. They are Mrs. Burdette D. Rad cliffe, wife of the meat, milk and food inspector of New Britain, and Mrs. Oliver Clark of Indian Orchard, Mass, and Levi H. Newell of Plainville He also leaves three grandchildren, two grandsons and one granddaughter.
 Storm Worst in Years
 The storm which swept over this section of the state last night was the worst which Plainville has experi- enced in many years. The rain, which fell as during a cloudburst, flooded the gutters, swept away portions of the highway, overf1owed the street drains, washed away parts of the Nf NX r1o havoc in general. while the blinding flashes of lightning followed in most instances almost simultaneously by terrific crashes of thunder, terrified many of the younger generation and caused general apprehension throughout the town.
 The storm, which had been evidently 1 brewing since early in the afternoon, suddenly burst about 7:3O o'clock. 1 People who had been sitting on their front porches or who from other 1 points have been watching the un- usually brilliant electrical display in l the northern and eastern heavens were 1 compelled to seek immediate shelter 1 and the storm clouds, swept over the mountains by a brisk wind, suddenly swooped across the valley. During the heighth of the storm lightning struck l the electric light system somewhere on the circuit and for several hours the service was out of commission. In houses where electricity was the only means of providing light there was a hurried search for candles kerosine lamps or barn lanterns and in one residence where little party was in progress a single electric torch was the sole source of light during the entire dinner. The trolley car service was likewise held up for sometime and on the railroad washout near Bristol tied up steam traffic for some time.
 As far as could be learned this morning the storm did no great dam age and there was no loss of life. either among human beings or among cows or horses in pasture. Several large trees on the outskirts were eith- CT blown down or split in twain by lightning bolts and in numerous in- stances little gardens maintained at considerable physical exertion by the industrious proprietors were almost washed away.
 Here is True Gratitude.
 A striking example of real gratitude is furnished by recent experience of 1 Police Officer Cornelius Downing. Sew eral nights ago Fred Hallback, said to have been drinking somewhat too copiously of the cup that confuses as we'll as cheers, was struck by pass ing autom obile at the center and rolled into the gutter. The fault was l apparently his own and the autoist 1 was not arrested. although Hallback l was taken into custody by Officer | Downing. Because of the mans con- dition and the severe jolt he had just suffered, Officer Downing was inclined | to be lenient and rather than holding 1 his prisoner for trial he sent him | home For Halll eck's own interests | and to prevent him from getting into even a worse condition the policeman A. I,o