New Britain herald., 1926-07-19
CITY PERFORMED
 BY HEAVY STORM
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 policemen were detailed to prevent burglary. The show cases in front of the Army-Navy store on Church street were smashed and their con- tents removed to the police station. Awnings were damaged at the Economy store, 43 Main street, Brennan's, 47 Main street; Eastern Millinery, 133 Main; Garber Broth CTS, 215 Main; Self Service Shoe Co.,, 3S9 Main; Hub Clothing. 407 Main; s. W. Menus store, 3S9 Main; Grants store, Main street.
 Hospital Plunged Into Darkness Lightning struck fuses on the Griswold street loop of the electric system throwing the New Britain General hospital into darkness and putting the switchboard out of order. For several hours there was no electric service in the hospital l but the nurses and house doctors circulated through the wards and rooms reassuring patients and no { i'll effects other than natural nerv- l ousness were reported.
 Theaters and public dining places also felt the inconvenience of lack of power. House lights and electri- cally controlled musical fnstru- ments were out for a time and gas lamps were resorted to in providing illumination,
 Wet coils and distributors and other minor troubles made 1t a busy night for the garages and tow-cars were at a premium for hours after the rain subsided. No accidents from skidding were re- ported to the police.
 There was but one general inter ruption in electrical service during which the entire city was without power and that was for space of but a few minutes. Workmen were on duty until early this morning repairing breaks, which were caused mainly by trees falling across lines. In several districts there were no lights for an hour or more, but the system was operating at maximum efficiency before the repair men turned in this morning.
 400 Telephones Useless
 Four hundred subscribers were without telephone service when 100 circuits of the Southern New Eng land Telephone Go. went out of order. The breaks were scattered | and lasted varying lengths of time. With few exceptions all were operating this morning. In almost every instance the damages did not come from breaks within the sys- tenn but, as was true of the Con- necticut Light & Power Co.,, falling branches played havoc with the service.
 Near Death of Savln Rock 1 About 20 members of St. Joseph's 1 parish were in peril during the storm while aboard a small boat go- ing from Lighthouse Point to Savin Rock. They were on an outing and started to return to Savin Rock just before the storm broke. When about half way across, the boat began to pitch and toss and rain fell in tor rents. Because of the violence Of the wind, the captain was unable to control the boat and keep it on it's course. It is said that there were about 75 passengers aboard and many of them became panic strick- en. Women screamed and children cried with fright. At times waves broke over the gunwale and fre- ouently the boat rolled over so that the rail was awash, water coming up on the deck to a depth of several inches.
 The captain and his two assistants tried to calm the passengers but were obviously doubtful of their ability to bring the craft to it's pier at savin Rock. A number on board attempted to appear light hearted and tried to cheer those who were seized with fright.
 The gale blew the boat off it's course and when the situation ap peared most perilous the crew pre- pared the life boat for immediate use.
 Many of the male passengers were drenched, being forced to remain on deck because the cabin was crowd. ed with women and children. The trip across occupied twice the usual time and the passengers lost no time in leaving the craft the moment il ted up at the pier.