LIGHTNING ATTACKS LIGHTHOUSE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12260, 10 June 1914, Page 1

LIGHTNING ATTACKS LIGHTHOUSE.

Pun Press Association. ■lnvereargill, June I'-. The heavy weather experienced in Foveaux'Strait last week appears to. have brought a pronounced visitation of lightning to the vicinity of Dog Island. On Monday, with the moderation in th'p storm, the telegraph lines- | men were able to get across H> list I.tsiaiul. by launch, and oil arfival at tlie ( sjiot SiiVeStlgatidii. slUWeit that t)ii lightning had'played' havoc Willi tiScj wires,' and had done considerable damage to; the lighthouse itself. The headkeeper (Murray) way on duty when the storm was at its highest, and the.; flashes first came into c-ontact with the AVGsi-iiril: iv'a'li- 0/ tile ligli'tlioui-ej feStfuguishing three of tlie sixteen lights lti one vivid flash. It travelled inside the building, and Murray was knocked off the chair on which sitting, while the windows in the lighthouse were all smashed. Boards and also bricks ttul'e Wii ilivay fraili tin l .fttriio ture as if thev were merely bits of paper.- The'tank stand at Murray's residence'<on 'the .island was completely torn away and the cable for a distance of fifty yards was'fused and rendered completely useless. All the cable box fittings, were struck by lightning, tills portion of tire gear will need to by! replaced. The linesmen to-day visited the wire where it enters tho sea there, and communication is now restored.