The Telegram. — 1895-09-10 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

GREAT THUNDERSTORM. HOUSES STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. LONDON RAILWAYS FLOODED.  In the early hours of Saturday morning, London was swept by a stone of exceptional severity, atid possessing several ex Lraordioary characteristics. Two storms, each distinctive in its character and moving on parallel fines, seemed to have passed over the metropolis and the surrounding country with very little interval between the two. The tempest began soon after two o'clock in the outlying southern districts, and did not cease until nearly four o'clock. . _ .  In the height of the storm the firemen were called out, shortly after five o'clock, to 14, Gertrude Street, Chelsea, where it was found that the llghtning had struck the residence of M.A.Crouch. The house was practically deatruyed. When the worst of the storm seemed to be over a two-storied house, No. 31, Lea Road, Enfield, was struck by lightning, accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder. Mr. Howlett, the occupier, had left lonic just previously ; but his wife, who was in bed, was struck by the falling bricks and slightly injured. Passengers by the Biala Mt Railway had the remarkable experience of travelling through a flooded line. This was near Haiumersinith, at the junction with the Great Western, the rain having poured IiOWD the incline and accumulated at the mouth of the short tunnel. The fire of an engine of that line was extinguished, causing a block, which, however, did not last long.—Crouch Hill Station (Midland and Great Eastern Railway) was inundated, the platforms being covered with water, which rose to the height of 51t. fin., and completely blocked the line until seven o'clock. Many houses in the district were flooded.—On the North London Railway considerable damage ' was caused, and very seldom has there been such a sight as was witnessed at Dalston Junction, Bow, Old Ford, South Bromley, and Poplar. From Old Ford to Poplar the line runs very low, and consequently the rain ran down the line until the railway had the appearance of a river. At Balaton Junction the water was of a very considerable depth and the " swishing " of the trains through it caused touch excitement strong the passengers. On the Great Eastern Railway several of the stations and goodsvards were under water. On the East London Railway from Liverpool Street to New Cross the tunnels were flooded. When the storm was at its height a young lady, named Hurley, belonging to Rochester, arose from her bed, and, going down to the river Medway, threw herself into the water. A man, named Bourue, who was passing on his way to work, jumped in and rescued her, afterwards handing her over to the police. The would-be suicide was, it is alleged, suffering Irons religious mania, and had been fur some time under medical treatment. . _ . . .  The barque Carsten Bac, of Arendal, with pitwood, was struck by lightning, and her mainmast, mizzen topmast, fore topgallant yard, and other gear and spars were carried away. At Dover the lightning lit up the French cliffs so that they could be seen quite plainly from Dover, and many balls of fire fell into the sea. At Eastbourne, from one to two o'clock, the heavens seemed one blaze of fire, so continuous was the lightning, and the thunder roared and rattled without cessation. So grand and appalling a scene has never before been witnessed in the town. Happily no damage appears to have been done. The officers and soldiers of the Ist Scots Guards, under Colonel Wilson, who left the Victoria Barracks on Friday afternoon for some outpost movements in the forest country, had asoniewhat unpleasant experience. They were exposed all night to the full violence of the storm, and, after marching many miles, returned with drenched umforuia to their Windsor quarters, which were reached early in the following day, not a man, it is said, having fallen out during the homeward route. The 2nd Life Guards were encamped in Windsor Park. At Canterbury the lightning struck the windmill on the top of St. Martin's Hill, and did considerable damage to the sweeps. Considerable damage was done by the remarkable storm on Saturday morning to the crops in Essex not yet Carted, and acres of growing vegetation were compietely perforated by the showers of large hailstones winch fell during the tempest.