Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A huge electrical storm raised havoc in the region.

Three people were injured in Lewiston when a bolt of lightning sizzled down and struck the auto they were riding in.

“The car turned completely around in the road throwing out the occupants” and pinning the driver underneath.

The driver was severely cut and also had a burn extending from his wrist to his back. He was expected to recover.

In Walla Walla, a farm laborer was struck by lightning while he was out plowing a field. He was expected to recover, too, but he had “been made almost totally deaf.”

A farm wife was out underneath a tree, feeding some ducks, when lightning hit the tree. Several of the ducks were killed, but she was improving and should recover. 

In Spirit Lake, Idaho, and other places, the lightning storm cut off power and telephone lines. “A near panic occurred in the Star moving picture show” when the movie stopped and the theater went black.

People in the foothills said they could “still smell sulphur” the day after the lightning.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1863: The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, made up of freed blacks, left Boston to fight for the Union in the Civil War.