Evening star., 1941-07-04
lightning Kills
Man as Storm
Ends Heat Wave
Downpour Probably
A Factor in Traffic
Death as Well

Cool and cloudy weather brought
relief to Washington today in the
wake of thunderstorm which killed
one man late yesterday and prob
ably was contributing cause in a
traffic death.
The mercury got down to a low
of IS degrees early today under mis-
ty skies and remained in the COM
Portable Cos well into the morning.
The drop in temperature was a well
come change from record-breaking
heat and high humidity of the last
few days.
At the height of the thunderstorm
which rolled over the city in late
afternoon bolt of lighting struck
and killed William Butler, 33, COL
ored, of l27 Quander street Sc,
as he was entering a truck parked
in the 400 block of Fourth street
S.W.
The man was found lying under
tree at the curb and was pro-
nounced dead by a physician who
responded with a Casualty Hospital
ambulance.
Pedestrian Killed.
The traffic death was that Of a
man tentatively identified as Ernest
Hancock of 9l0 I street NV. He
was crossing the street in the rain
about TAO pm. when hit by truck.
Police were told the man was caught
in the intersection by a change in
traffic lights.
Six-year- -old Robin Grimes, son of
Ralph Grimes, a motion picture
fourth street NE. was drowned yes
terday when he stepped off sand
bar while wading in the Eastern
Branch with a playmate.
Almost an inch of rain fell be-
tween $50 and 10:30 pm, accom-
panied by blasts of thunder and a
wind which reached 30-mile velocity
at times.
Water Gate Concert Cancelled.
The public performance OF the
Sunset Symphony, already posi-
poned because of sudden downpours.
was Cancelled last night just before
the announced opening time. s pm.
The National Symphony Orchestra.
however, played anyhow because Of
a radio commitment and at least
100 sturdy music lovers sat through
the entire performance. from 8 TO
$50 o'clock, which was broadcast by
Station WMAL
The musicians, led by Charles
O'Connell, director of artists and
classical recordings for RCA-Victor,
gave spirited exhibition. which ap-
parently was enjoyed by the little
audience huddled in the ram as
much as by the radio listeners.
No admission was charged the
100, who sat under umbrellas and
bundled in rain coats in the gustv
downpour. The musicians played
behind canvas curtain dropped
over the front of their covered shell.
Tickets May Be Exchanged.
Since the concert was postponed
from Wednesday night, it was can
celed last night. Holders of tickets
may either exchange them, the
orchestra management announced,
or have their money refunded in
the symphony box Office in kits
husic store.
The next concert will be PLAYED
at the Water Gate Monday night
under direction of Reginald Stewart
of the Toronto Philharmonic, with
Millard Taylor, concertmaSter of the
National Symphony, appearing as
Soloist.
In the traffic fatality which oc-
CURED during the storm, police said
the driver of the truck that struck
Mr.. Hancock was Lewis A. Davis,
colored. 20, of the 500 block of Fifty
third street NE. He was held for
action of the coroner's Office. Police
said the man had no drivers license.
The officers said they expected to
charge Zebulon F. Warner, %, of
1212 M street. passenger in the
truck, said to be its regular driver.
with permitting an unlicensed oper-
ator to drive the vehicle.
Gloria Duckett, 16. of 1922 Har-
ward street NV. and Francis A.
Burke, l6, of 1920 Florida avenue
NE. were cut and bruised early
today in a collision between the car
in which they were riding and q
streetcar at Fifty-seventh street and
Deane avenue NE. They were
treated at Casualty Hospital.