Evening journal., 1920-06-17
lightning, Wind
SHAKE Up CITY
Bolts Fire House and Put
Telephones Out of Com
mission
TROLLEY SYSTEM
ALSO CRIPPLED

During an electrical storm here yes
terday afternoon. considerable damage
was done, but the loss will not amount
10 as much as in the storm Of a week
ago. One house was fred by a light
ming bolt. the district fre companies
quickly eXtiDgushing the names.
one trolley car was struck ana the
motors in a number OF others were
burned out.
number OF trolley poles were
leyeled, and trees and other debris
scattered about the city streets. Tele-
phone service was affected. Electric
power was shut on for about AZ min
utes during the height OF The storm.
Lights went out al over The city and
traflic was stepped until the switch
board. which had burned out, was
on the Delaware City line. six 40
foot poles through the DObblnsNille
marsh were thrown down aud iho
trolley line put out OF commission.
II was necessary 10 run cars 10 lhe
end Of the line both This side and ne
other side OF .he break and carry the
passengers around the break In a
large motor bus.
signal lights were put out OF com
nilsson on the Delaware Cl.y line be
tween Megginson's turnout aud New
Castle, and on the Darby line between
Shellpot and Claymont. IL was nee
essary to operate cars without sig
nal lights. These cars had their
motors burned out by The electricity.
on the West Fourth street line a
large tree was blown down and across
west Fourth street, completely block
ing traffic for about half an hOur'
The traction company got a wrecNng
crew 10 the place al BOO O'Clock and
had cleared the rubbish away so that
trafibc could be resumed by Go. Ihe
Diamond state Telephone Company Is
lines were slightly damag Z. about
- lines and 220 stations being put Out
OF commission. Few reports OF dam
age down state were received. The
damage 20 company's service was not
so great as In the storm OF last FRI
day, there being no cables burned out,
and service can be restored on The
aff8oted lines in a short time.
One house at $40 South Franklin
street was slightly damaged by IRE,
an alarm being sent in from Box &c
The fire was caused by the chimney
being struck by lightning. The place
~ OUUQNItu UN IIAhNNA AAhAA AAA anu
owned by John Putzkus.
A trolley car was struck by light
ming at Sycamore and Union stree.s
but beyond the burning out OF The
motor was not damaged.
Some damage was done 10 trees and
roads in Ghristiana hundred. tn,
wind tore OF tree limbs and Tho rain
washed out roads. Traffic on The Rls.
ing sun trolley line was suspended fol
some time. Growing corn was he0ter
down by the heavy rain.
During the storm yesterday after
noon a bolt OF lightning passed
houses OF John Hirsch, 1881 Wes
isss
without doing any serious damag,
10 passed over the Top OF a wooden
fence al the outlet OF the alley and
then burst in the middle OF Fourth
street with such a loud report that
residents were nearly deafened for the
moment
1t would be hard 10 tell whether
the lightning did any damage 10 the
bed Of Fourth street at this point for
the Belgian block street Is SO filled
with holes and ruis that the damage
by a stroke Of lightning would not be
distinctive.
After Il was over. Stephen Solloway,
OF 1926 West Fourth street. picked up
a piece OF mineral about 3 inches In
diameter that he declared flew from
the mass OF fire and cooled on In
substance il resembled carbon but In
appearance was like a mass OF iron
that has been burned and left In a
porous condition. Mr.. SOlloway Is
holding the piece of mineral as a SOU
Nenir OF the storm.