The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-06-11
BARNETT FAMILY
HAVE CLOSE CALL
HOME STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
EARLY THIS THURSDAY
MORNING
is VERY BADLY WRECKED
SEVERAL FARM BUILDINGS DE-
STROYED BY SUNDAY EVE
NING'S STORM

This Thursday morning about SIX
o'clock during the electrical storm
lightning practically destroyed the W..
II. Barnett residence on South Main
street.
The bolt which wrecked the resi-
dence evidently struck the electric
light wires and followed the line
throughout the entire house, entering
at the front and making its exit at
the rear tearing large hole IN the
side wall, and followed the wires to
the barn.
No trace of the copper could be
found from the wires, nothing put
the insulation remained to show that
wires had ever adorned the place. Fire
was started in several places through
the dwelling but were soon extin-
guished by members of the family
and nearby neighbors. The fire de-
partment responded rapidly to the
alarm, but were delayed considerab-
ly due to the fact that the road is
closed, making detour around by
the Fair grounds necessary to reach
the scene of disaster
When the bolt which wrecked the
residence struck, the Barnett family
had not arisen for the day. Harry
and his younger brother were occu-
pying the sleeping porch at the front
of the house. The bed upon which
they were sleeping was literally torn
to pieces and the ceiling which was
completely torn down buried thens
under its wreckage. Aside from
very slight scratches neither OF the
bows were hurt. Mr. and Mrs. Bar
nett occupying room in the main
part of the house were showered with
falling plaster, but escaped serious
injury.
The telephone box was torn to
pieces as was the elightric light
meter, and all light switches Were
torn from the walls. All the windows
in the dwelling with the exception OF
two were broken and fragments OF
glass were thrown to the roadway a
distance of over sixty feet.
Pictures were torn from the walls,
and dishes in the buffet were broken
to small bits.
While the Barnett family are I'M
fortunate in having their home de-
troyed, they are very fortunate to
escape without serious injury or loss
of life.
The Herald understands that Mr..
Barnette is substantially insured.
This section of Minnesota has suf-
fered untold loss this season by Sc
we're wind storms, and scarcely q
week goes by what additional losses
are incurred. To date no lives have
been lost.
Edward Schwanke farmer resid-
ing two miles north of Grey Eagle
has had his barn completely wrecked
by wind three times within four
weeks period.
The severe wind and rain storm of
of buildings. The large barn on the
farm near West Union, owned by
Thomas Sullivan was blown down.
Herbert Cans nearby lost his chick
en- house and the barn was quite bad
ly wrecked.
Silos reported down are: A. p.
Rorabough (Stiles FARM five miles
west of the city; Jake Kane, west of
Sank Centre, and Anton Liebel, lost
silo; the silo on the Collins farm in
Raymond township and the one on the
Herb Mcintyre farm now owned by
Mr.. Sell were destroyed; the machine
shed on the Larson farm three miles
west on the Fairy Lake road and the
buildings on the Braddock farm on
Lyman Prairie were badly wrecked.
The electric light high lines and
telephone lines are more or less out
of order as it has been practically
impossible for the repair crews to
keep them in condition.
The insurance losses caused by the
storm of two weeks ago have not all
been settled, and there are rumors
of much dissatisfaction on the part of
some of the farmers on the settle
ments offered by some of the COM
naniac