Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 189, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1911 — LIGHTNING STRUCK BUSINESS HOUSE AT FAIR OAKS. [ARTICLE]

LIGHTNING STRUCK BUSINESS HOUSE AT FAIR OAKS.

Store of Felix R. Erwin Damaged to Extent of SSOO or More—Other Lightning Damage. At about 5 o’clock this Friday morning when the lightning and thunderstorm was the loudest in Rensselaer, citizens of Fair Oaks were helping Felix R. Erwin, the merchant, extinguish a fire in the shoe department of his store. The fire was caused by lightning, which struck the chimney in the southwest corner of the building and coursed downward, following the pump into the ground. Flames soon started and by the time Mr. Erwin ' could get down the stairs, were making headway that it looked unlikely could be checked. A bucket brigade was formed and was headed by “Shorty” Burns? The lads fought valiantly and succeeded in extinguishing the flames; but not until practically the entire stock of shoes, valued at about SSOO, had been destroyed or ruined. The building suffered damage to the extent of about SIOO. Mr. Erwin was insured and the old policy would have expired at noon today. He had, however, provided for a renewal the day before. Mr. Erwin and family live in a flat above the store. Fortunately none of them were in the part of the house which was struck by the bolt of lightning and none were injured. Lightning also struck a big hollow tree that was close to the Halleck elevator, at Fair Oaks, and set fire to it. The flames issued from the tree trunk in such a manner as to endanger the elevator an<kjhe flames could not be subdued until the tree was cut down. The firefighters at Fair Oaks had a busy forenoon and some of them made their appearance in very scant attire and did not go home for more clothing until the fires were out. In Rensselaer the lightning crashed about in a manner that indicated serious results but none seem to have occurred. Fire a Chief Montgomery was confident that fires would result and he dressed at a quarter of 5 o’clock and came down town. He went to the telephone office to see that everything was all right and while there a bolt of lightning burned out a transformer for the electric light plant at the top of a pole in front of Warner’s store. He succeeded in putting out the blaze with a couple of chemical hand engines, being assisted by Chester Zea. Several other transformers are—(bought to have been burned out and City Light and Water Superintendent Chamberlin is busy With his force today getting things fixed for tonight. The telephone company had considerable trouble, especially with country lines, a number being burned out.