Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Sturgeon Bay Advocate Vol. 52, No. 19 Thursday, July 31, 1913 ELECTRIC STORM DOES DAMAGE Barns of August Simpson and Alfred Hanson Destroyed by Lightning Early Sunday Morning. SEVERAL ANIMALS BURN TO DEATH Losses Will Total $5000, With Only About Half as Much Insurance. Hanson Barn Had Lightning Rods. This region was on Saturday night visited by an electric storm of great severity, when a perfect deluge of rain ac- companied by thunder and lightning swept over this vicinity between midnight and Sunday morning. Loses Barn and Stock The large barn of AUGUST SIMPSON, chairman of the town of Sturgeon Bay was struck and totally destroyed by fire about 4 o'clock Sunday morning, together with the contents and some stock. The family had been awakened by the storm, but returned to their beds, when about 4:30 they were awakened by some of their neighbors and informed that the barn was burning. A fine team of horses, three calves and about 100 chickens were burned to death. There was also fifty tons of hay, a couple of buggies and considerable small farm tools destroyed. Two colts and several cows happened to be out in the pasture and escaped, altho one of the colts got tangled up in the barb wire fence during the excitement and cut its foot badly. MR. SIMPSON carried $700 insurance on the barn, $200 on the contents and $600 on the horses. The loss above the insurance will total at least $2000. Preparations will be made at once to rebuild the burned structure. MR. SIMPSON says that he arose during the night of the storm between 2 and 3 o'clock and looked around the premises, but could see nothing out of the way. He saw the illumination in the west from the burning HANSON barn on the bay shore, which he viewed from one of the upper windows. After wandering around the house for an hour he laid down on the sofa toward 4 o'clock, when his wife induced him to retire, he first having made another investigation to see if everything was all right. He had not been in bed more than half an hour, or little more, when he was awakened by the alarm of fire which was destroying his property. While he did not have a presentiment exactly, he felt uneasy during the storm, and it was strange that his fears should have been so well founded. Had the bolt struck when he was around the house he could probably have saved some of the poor animals which is his deepest regret. To lose a fine team of horses at this busy time of the year is felt more than at any other time, and he was especially attached to his animals. ALFRED HANSON Barn Burns. The barn of ALRED HANSON located on the bay shore in the town of Sevastopol was struck between 2 and 3 o'clock, catching on fire and being totally destroyed, together with the contents. The family was awakened by the by the crash when the barn was struck, and hastily arose. The bolt had entered and set fire to the hay in the loft, which immediately enveloped the structure in flames that it was impossible for the assembled neighbors to subdue. The barn was a structure of two parts, one of which was 28 x 48 and the other 20 x 30 feet. Fifteen tons of hay were destroyed. There was also some furniture and belongings of the late Rev. Dr. IVERSON stored in the barn, some of which con- sisted of books and valuable documents that cannot be replaced. MR. HANSON carried an insurance of $1,000 on the building and $100 on the contents. The loss will aggregate fully $2,000. It is the intention of the owner to rebuild as soon as the loss is adjusted. The barn was equipped with lightning rods, which had been put on for the protection of the premises against just such an emergency, and this is one of the rare occassions when a build- ing that is fitted out with protection of this kind is destroy- ed. The company gave a guarantee of $500 against loss by light- ning when the barn was equipped and MR. HANSON expects that it will make good the guarantee. HORSE KILLED IN JACKSONPORT EXOR DESJARDINE of the town of Jacksonport lost a horse the same night, the animal being struck by lightning while out in the field. ========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ==========================================================================