Storms of terrific violence passed over Rushden on Saturday from about half-past one to half-past two. The roof of a house in High-street, occupied by Mr. Bates, fish dealer, was struck by lightning. At 26, Portland-road, the residence of Mr. F. Shortland, the chimney was struck and smashed in, and some of the slates on the roof were dislodged. In both bedrooms the walls were damaged and the paper was torn off in places. The rooms downstairs were filled with smoke and dust. In the sitting-room the side of the grate was lifted out of its place against the wall.
At 47, Queen-street, occupied by Mr. William Skinner, the well-known local musician, the chimney was struck, and one of the chimney-pots thrown on to the roof, many of the slates being smashed. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner were sitting in the front room, and a brick fell down the chimney, causing considerable alarm. In the living-room the chimney was much damaged, and in a back bedroom the ceiling was broken through.
In the neighbourhood of Eastfields, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. George Denton, the storms appeared to be at their worst. A quantity of crockery rattled in the house, and the thunder was exceptionally heavy. In the field near the house a valuable dairy cow – worth about £19 – belonging to Mr. Abbott, dairyman, was struck by lightning and killed.
At Wellingborough the lightning was extremely vivid and the thunder claps startling. Lightning struck the chimney stack at the house of Mr. Allured, hairdresser, Cambridge-street, and partially demolished it.
The telephones throughout the Rushden district were seriously deranged, many wires being down.
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