New Britain herald., 1922-09-07

several other cars were put out of commission. trolley electric light and telephone service was crippled, trees uprooted, driveways washed out, fac- tories stopped, theater programs n- terrupted and general havoc seemed imminent within a space of 15 or 20 minutes yesterday in by far the se- verest storm this city has seen this ] summer.
 | It was in the neighborhood of 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon when, all most without warning, the city seemed to be struck by a veritable | cloudburst and within few minutes many of the streets resembled small rivers.
 Lightning Damage.
 Lightning struck the chimney of the house at 40 Belden street owned by William Tomails. The chimney was demolished. one man trolley was struck on West Main street and the motor burned out, resulting in a damage of about $50. A car on Hartford avenue was put out of com mission when lightning struck the wires and service on Stanley street East Main street and Hartford Ave, was suspended for about three-quar- ters of an hour.
 Lightning struck two out of three underground feed cables of the Con- necticut Light and Power Co.,, running along Black Rock avenue and West Main street, causing several interrup- tions to service Four or five times during 20 minute period lightning struck insulators along the Plainville line and each time there was slight interruption of service.
 Wires running into the Hart & Cooley plant. into the Connecticut Quarries company and several fac tories in Plainvile, were struck, while practically every factory in New Britain was affected. Those plants which ordinarily suspend operations at o'clock, dismissed their help for the day. Those plants which run until 6 o'clock were en- abed to resume after a 15 minute in- terruption.
 Trees Fall.
 Due to falling trees, branches, etc. on the mountains the Connecticut company had it's usual quota of wires down. At 4:45 o'clock the emer- gency system was put to work and from that time on there was little trouble. Tn various parts of the city trees were uprooted. A large limb was broken off near the post office and a big tree was uprooted on church street, near Stanley.
 Water Deep in Street.
 In the low spot on Church street, near the Skinner Chuck company, the water was two feet deep or over, and was filtered with floating boards. etc, while a similar flood occurred at the foot of Church street hill, near Stan- ley street.
 On Main street, near East Main street the water rushed down the street like a raging torrent and at times was so high it covered the side walks, rising several inches above the top of the curb. Boards lying loose on Lafayette street were washed away and a large tWo-inch plank was washed onto Main street Autos and bicycles, hastily abandoned, stood in water more than half way up to the hubs.
 Theater Lights Out.
 The theaters were fairly well filled with afternoon patrons, who became nervous when the lights went out, and although orchestras played all during the intermission there was a continual stream of people walking in and out of the Hobbies. gazing at eto c1S n Q what the damage would be.
 Rawlings "Out of Luck"
 All over the city lawns were washed out and driveways damaged. Former Chief of Police William J. Rawlings has worked industriousy for the past week or more building driveway into his property on Emmons place. After having completed the driveway to his satisfaction he had the pleas ure of seeing it all washed away yes terday
 The large banner suspended across Main street at the intersection of West Main street. announcing the Y. M. T. A. & B. society's fair, literally was torn to ribbons, involving loss of about s75.
 
 No washouts on the tracks of either the Connecticut company or the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- way company are reported. This is attributed to modern methods of laying road beds, which are said to be elim- mating the danger of washouts from sudden summer storms.
 Telephones Out
 The Southern New England Tele- phone company escaped remarkably | well, in the opinion of Wire Chief l Thomas Stammers although between | 55 and 60 lines, affecting between 150 | and 200 telephones were put out of business, and it may take until noon tomorrow to have them all in working condition again. Ordinarily in a storm of that kind they would expect to have about 200 lines and possibly 400 phones out of commission.
 The reason there was not more damage, according to MT. Stammers, is because wire chiefs of New England have entered upon a campaign of mo accidents to service during Septem ber," and because of this campaign every lneman and mechanic is mak- ing an extra effort to keep things in first class condition.
 No Accidents
 No accidents were reported to the board of public works up until 10 o'clock this morning. The board of water works did not experience any