FIREBALL STRIKES AERIAL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 65, 9 December 1938, Page 12

FIREBALL STRIKES AERIAL

Terrific Burst Near House

ELECTRICA L PHENOMENON ON WEST COAST Uy Telegraph— Press Association. WESTPORT, December 8. In Miko. '-5 miles north of Westport, last night a brilliant electrical display lighted all the countryside. It was aeeonipanied by heavy thunder, and readied its peak al 12.45 a.m., when a thunderbolt fell—a ball 01. tire which, striking the radio aerial "1 Mr. R. B. Goulding, Imrsf. into count less fragments of lire :i lew loci 1 rom a bedroom. window.

The bursting of rhe thunderbolt was accompanied by a terrific explosion like a cannon shot, ami soul a rain of sparks all round. Upon investigation Ibis morning Mr. Gouiding found that the aerial was cut off at each end by the insulators as dean as if done by a knife. Telephone and radio were both silenced. A large bole appeared in a shed roof and numerous farm implements were strewn round, having been thrown over by tin* concussion of tlie explosion. Telegraph wires were also cut for a chain aloiig the road.

Inquiiies from lhe neighbours revealed that they noted only the general electrical storm, suggesting Hint the intensity of the dist urbiiiu'e was located al Mr. Gouiding s.