Struck By Lightening

Jamestown Press
Jamestown, [Boone County] Indiana
Friday, 4 Sept 1903

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
Barn On Carl Myers' Farm Burned To The Ground

During the electrical storm on Thursday night of last week Oscar Fisher's house near New Brunswick, was struck by lightning and slightly damaged. Mr. Fischer was sitting in the sitting room reading when the bolt of lightening ran down the chimney and tore the casing in the door to pieces, but did not damage the transom. The flash put the lamp out and left the house in darkness.

The same night the large barn on the Carl Myers place about 2 ½ miles northeast of Jamestown was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The place is occupied by Clay Baumgartner who discovered the fire a few minutes after it started. He ran out of the barn in his night clothing, not taking the time to dress, and turned his horses out of the barn and then gave the alarm. A few minutes later several neighbors arrived at the fire and they succeeded in saving several articles for Mr. Baumgartner. The barn was full of hay and it appeared like the lightening went all through it and set it afire all over. A large amount of corn was burned besides a large amount of farming implements. A "company" corn shredder in which Mr. Baumgartner had an interest was stored in the barn and it was also destroyed. The barn was insured in the Boone County Co operative insurance company for $400.00, but Mr. Baumgartner carried no insurance on his property. His loss was about $500.00.

Transcribed by: Janet Isley Price.