New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-07-23
heat WAVE BROKEN
BY SEVERE STORMS
Temperature Reached ia De-
greS Here Yesterday
TWO BAD FOREST FIRES
Houses on Pennington Line Threat
ened-Fire Alarm Has First Use
Veteran Bodies Hold Election
Mt Camp Grounds-Briefs.

The heat wave which has held
Plainville in its grip for the past
week was broken at least temporari-
ly last night by succession of
severe electrical and wind storms.
Only slight damage has been re-
ported, but the storms had a fury
as intense as any in recent years
and it is considered fortunate that
Plainville escaped as much as it
did.
Yesterday proved even hotter
than the day before, the maximum
temperature reported being ia de-
grees between 2 and 8 o'clock in
front of the Neri block. Added to
this was the fact that there was al
most no breeze, and the human and
animal Inhabitants of the town suf-
fered greatly. Doctors report many
cases of heat prostration, but none
of them serious. Several factories
suspended operations.
Then, last evening, clouds which
had been hanging in the western
sky for several hours suddenly be-
gan to crowd forward and caught
the town almost unaware with a
downpour and electrical display.
Storm followed storm throughout
the night. eliminating in terrific
one about dawn today. A veritable
cloud burst descended upon the
streets, a strong gale uprooted trees,
and the display of lightning was
exceptionally vivid.
Several huge trees were blown
down near the northern end of
Cook street, some being split about
ten feet from the ground and others
being uprooted by the wind. Luckily
all Of these trees were on the east
ern side of the street, and fell away
from the road, SO that traffic was
able to continue uninterrupted The
power at the Benzon factory on
Whiting street was cut off, appar-
entity by lightning, but the installa-
ton of new fuses permitted the
plant to continue work today. 1t
is believed that a bolt of lightning
was responsible for a forest fire in
the Scott swamp district shortly
after o'clock last night
Forest Fire Threatens Homes
Homes along the Plainville-
Pennington town line were threat.
ened late yesterday by a bad forest
| fire which swept in from the north
The blaze originated in Pennington
but about $3.50 o'clock the Plainville
! fire company responded to the first
alarm blown by the new fire whistle
ron the Town hall and crossed the
town line to stand guard over the
endangered residences.
The fire rushed through pine for
est, the flames leaping from so 10
100 feet into the air and being dis
cernible for miles after darkness fell
with the fire unchecked. 1t leaped
more than 500 feet across a swamp
and blazing embers set afire trees on
the other side near the houses which
the local firemen were protecting.
The swamp hindered the firemen's
work and they could do little beyond
keeping the flames from the resi-
dences. The rain which fell heavily
during the evening storms quenched
the fire at last after it had reigned
supreme for about six hours.
Veteran Bodies Elect
TheAseason at the Plainville Camp
Ground opened officially yesterday
with the observance of Veterans
day, In spite of the heat, a large
number of Civil, Spanish American,
and World war veterans were pres
ent, and the temperature was by no
means unbearable under the trees in
the grove. Sandstrom's military Or
chestra Of Bristol gave a concert In
the morning. Vice President Henry
w Burrill of the Veterans associa-
ton opened the exercises, after
which Miss Doris Sprague of Plain
Vile gave a recitation, "Old Glory"
Rev. William D. Beach of Plainville
spoke, and another recitation was
tt