New Britain herald., 1926-08-13
BRISTOL STREETS
 DEEP IN WATER
Storm Floods Many Sections Policeman Stunned
LIGHTNING STRIKES HOUSE
Fire Started on Pine Shreet bv Noit-Expeet Change in Lighting Costs-Nife Complains of Illus band-Notcs.

| The most severe electrical storm 1 or the season, accompanied by 4 | hlgh wind and downpour of rain l ot almost cloudburst dimensions visited Bristol at about 4.20 o'clock
 yesterday afternoon and cansed con- siderable damage. Streets of the
 city were flooded and Main street.
 school street and the Memorial
 Boulevard all presented the appear
 ance of miniature rivers. On Mea-
 dow street, there was about four
 feet of water in front of the Cen tral Fire station which had accu- mulated from North Main street and the hill section.
 Prior to the breaking of the storm. the city was almost as dark as night and automobiles were obliged to turn on their lights in order to see any distance ahead. Factories and business houses were obliged 10 suspend operations for about five minutes due to failure of the electric lights.
 With the rain coming down in torrents, many autoists pulled along side the highway and others were obliged 10 stop due to the fact that their ignition had been dampened by the water which in many places reached the hubs of their cars.
 Trolley serveice Of the Bristol and Plainville Electric company was delayed somewhat due to huge piles of dirt being washed across the tracks at street intersections. At station 39 Broad street, Forestvile, about IS inches of dirt accumulated between the ties and it was neces- sary for section men to clear the right of way before service could be resumed. The railroad crossings, both in this city and Forestville, were also blocked fin a similar man. ner for short period, In the cen ter of Forestville, one of the busi- ness places was literally swamred with water.
 Telephone service in some parts of the city was crippled by the cleo lllIdl ulSpldy, lilSuilo anu 1v stations being reported out of ser vice this morning by the Southern New England Telephone company.
 The electrical service of the Bris- tol and Plainville Electrical com- pany also suffered, number of transformers being put out of com mission.
 Motorcycle Policeman Edgar Nor ton, on traffic duty at Pierce's bridge, East Bristol, was knocked | to his knees by one bolt of light | hing which struck a tree in the Vii ,inity of King street. He was stun ned for a moment but continued on l luty.
 Farmers in some of the outlying districts report that considerable lamage was done to their crops, | to corn, which was Snocked flat by the wind and ram. Many branches were broken OH rom trees about the city and sev- ,ral trees were struck by lightning
 The city department is busy this morning cleaning up streets apouC he city. .-
 No estimate of the damage, hsW- ,ver, was obtainable this morning
 Lightning Strikes Home
 During the severe electrical storm .esterday afternoon, the home or Tommy Mama at Station S1 on Pine treet was struck by lightning, tarting a fire in an upper attic. A telephone alarm was sent in to the ,entral Fire Station at 4:05 p. m. nd Squad A and Welch Fire Co. Of responded. Upon their rrival, they found members of the amily endeavoring to extinguish the ,laze with a garden hose. but very title headway was being made. A ent was made in the roof by the remen to permit some of the smoke