Lightning Causes Fire at Juliand's
Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York
Chenango Union, May 19, 1881
The burning of Mr. Juliand's barns, sheds, stables, etc., by lightning, on Monday afternoon last, made the largest fire in area ever before seen in Bainbridge. A slight estimate may be imagined of the extent of the fire by the fact that about an acre of buildings were consumed. Mr. Juliand's loss can hardly be estimated, as there were large lots of farm machinery, tools and castings which he himself has no memorandum of. Of live stock there were a pair of fine Kentucky mules, bought in that State by Mr. Juliand last fall; one three-year-old bay horse; one road saddle pony, five years old; one short-horn bull, a very valuable animal, once selling for $1,000; one short-horn heifer, a Craggs; one short-horn heifer, a Peri; one valuable Devon heifer; one Berkshire sow; one Yorkshire sow, besides a large number of fancy fowl, of which Mr. Juliand was an extensive breeder. The loss on other property, such as hay, grain and tools, we have been unable to obtain. Besides the live stock burned, several horses and other live stock were saved by the exertions of those present.
A strange and unaccountable fact in connection with this disaster is that the barn that was struck had a cupola, upon which was a lightning rod in good condition, and may still be seen as it fell, with the ground connection all right, the rod firmly embedded in the earth. Some who saw the building struck think the electric current entered the cupola. Some of the school children, however, claim to have seen it enter the bay window on the southwest end. At any rate, this proves that lightning rods are not always a sure protection against thunder storms.
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