TRAM STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18927, 16 February 1927, Page 8

TRAM STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

STORM AT AUCKLAND. MOTORMAN ESCAPES SERIOUS HURT. [THB PBBSS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, February 15. A tram car was struck by lightning at Epsom during tho height of a storm to-night, and the motorman. William Tee, had what must he accounted a providential escape. The experience loft him severely shaken, and the hair at the back of his neck was singed.

The tram car, which was bound from Greenwood's corner to the city, was wearing the Epsom tramway depot. It contained no passengers. The time was twenty minutes to seven, and the thunderstorm was raging at its fiercest. Suddenly there was an exceptionally vivid flash of lightning, which struck the overhead tramway wire, and travelled down tho pole of the car to the engine. A blinding flame shot out. and the motorman reeled back from the shock. He said afterwards that it felt as if someone had dealt him a severe blow on the baek of the neck. Even in the tense moment of the ordeal, however, he displayed the utmost coolness, and with commendable presence of mind instantly shut off tho power, and brought the ear to a standstill. The conductor, G. McLean, rushed to the front of the tram, and was relieved to find that Tee had escaped so lightly. The experience had plainly shaken Tee, but being young and powerfully built, he did not take it seriously. All he would admit was a pain at the back of the neck, and the singeing of his hair. Tho conductor brought the car on to the depot on half powor, one of the two engines having been disabled by the lightning. The tram car was placed in the depot for repairs. The wires in the car had fused, causing the lights to go out. Tee, who declared he would soon be all right, set off for his home.