Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-14
ELECTRICAL STORM
HITS WATERv|LLE
WITH MUCH DAMAGE

Two days of almost insuffera Bile
summer heat ended with the most
severe electrical storm of the season
in Waterville Saturday afternoon.
The storm, coming suddenly about q
O'Clock accompanied by high wind
caused a panic in a local theater
when crossed wire made the horn
at the Central Fire Station give one
blast, brought lightning which ripped
large hole in barn and hail which
broke glass in many houses and au-
tomobiles.
At the motion picture some I'M
thinking person cried Fire" when
the blast of the fire horn was heard
and a stampede for the exits started.
Police and members of the manage
ment of the theater were unable to
stay the crowd in its determination
to gain it's way to the street. One
small girl suffered an injured arm,
while several other people were en-
dangered. The organist continued
to play through the excitement and
this did much to cause the patrons
to resume their seats. The per-
Torrance was finished after the
panic. although before greatly de-
pleted audience.
1t is thought that the hail stones
which fell during the storm were the
largest in the history of the city.
One ripped a hole in the roof of the
sedan of Frank Joseph and its di-
mansions were found ito be IL by
j IL inches. The hot house in the
northern part of the city, the prop
erty of Marion c. Banning, was
ruined by the hail. practically every
pane of glass in the large building
being shattered. For a time the
ground was quite white with the hail
and many stones as large as teacups
could be found.
The lightning flashes were particu-
larly vivid and two buildings were
struck. At the home of Charles But
Ter the roof of the barn was nearly
ripped off but no fire was started
and no one was injured. Charles
Thomas barn in Winslow was also
struck by a bolt and here the flames
gained such Roadway that no at
tempt was made to put them out
and the barn and a considerable
quantity of hay were burned.
The rain fell in torrents for the
best part of half an hour and man.
holes in all parts of the city were
quickly put out of commission. The
rain gauge at the Fort Halifax pow
er station registered fall of three
and a half inches, which far sur
passes any previous storm of such
short duration for some time. On
the 22nd of last July there was a
cloudburst which did much damage
about the city but on that occasion
only 2.1S inches of rain fell.
Cellars in all parts of the city
were flooded and the loss will run
into the thousands of dollars. In
short time many of the streets of
the city were veritable rivers of
muddy water and members of the
street department were so flooded
with calls concerning block up sew
ers that it was necessary to work
for long time after the storm was
over. The torrents of rain, coupled
with the strong wind which blew,
and the darkness of the heavy clouds
made it as dark as night and it was
almost impossible to move out OF
doors during the worst of the storm.
Automobiles which were caught in
the deluge took refuge by the curb
where the hail stones did much dam
age to them.
Limbs were blown from trees ev-
erywhere and some of the streets
were for. a time made impossible.
There were no injuries reported from
the falling limbs.
Telephone lines throughout the
city were tied up and for some time
hundreds of phones could not be
used. Repairs were made as soon
as the storm was over and yester-
day all was in working order. The
Postal Telegraph Co. reported little
or no trouble with the lines that it
in this part of the State.
Although there were many single
instances where lights were put out
of commission, no section of the city
was thrown into darkness by the
storm. The many reports which
were sent to the power stations were
for trouble on the local lines and
the high tension wires were unmo-
Tested by the raging elements.
BY the older residents of the city
storm was declared to be
the worst which had struck the city
since August, 1856. when a much
similar downpoar did damage in all
parts of the city
The heavy shower failed to clear