BOLT STRIKES HOUSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5518, 30 December 1929, Page 2

BOLT STRIKES HOUSE.

FAMILY’S CLOSE CALL. FIRE-PLACE WRECKED. It is as usual at Christmas time to expect more peaceful visitors via the chimney, than thunderbolts, followed by alarming explosions. Yet such was the unenviable experience of aTe Aroha family about 3.25 p.m. on Sunday, December 22 (says the Te Aroha News). All the township heard the reverberating report of the bolt in the midst of the thunder storm that swept the valley during that afternoon, but few guessed that anything had actually been struck. The sharp “hiss” that followed the explosion was the only indication that it was other than an extraordinary loud peal of thunder.

The metal chimney pots of Mr V. R. L. Scott’s six-roomed residence in the grounds of the Presbyterian Church, Church Street, evidently held some attraction for the phenomenon. At the height of .the storm Mr and Mrs Scott and family of five children, whose ages ranged from 18 months to 14 years, were assembled in the front room. Luckily all windows

were opened. The report that took place was described. by Mr Scott as deafening beyond description. The heavy mantel and grate were thrown bodily into the room and stood two feet from the wall at an angle. The concussion affected them all, while a shower of flying mortar and small particles of brick-work peppered the walls and smoke belched from the grate. Athelie Scott, aged 18 months, who was nearest the fireplace at the time, had a miraculous escape and was not injured in any way, but Alan, an elder brother, was less fortunate and received a blow on the head from a flying chip of mortar. The injury is only of a minor nature. The family were temporarily blinded and deafened, but a later inspection revealed the grate from the double flue in another room had also thrown out a great cloud of soot, but was not damaged. A heavy smell like used cordite pervaded the house. The only outward appearance was that the chimney pot was thrown a little out of square. Mr J. N. Wood, who happened to be on the verandah of his house in Koromiko Street, stated that the flash was of a bluish nature, and descended, striking the chimney vertically. Following the report a cloud of brown smoke arose from the chimney. In his opinion the bolt exploded on striking the pots, and the spent force only tion was so terrific that had the explotravelled down the flue. The detonasion taken place in the house itself the consequences would have undoubtedly been of a far graver nature. As it was, Mr Scott and family had an exceedingly narrow escape, and can count themselves as most fortunate.