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Show AVERTED Lightning Strikes Steeple of Church and Sets Fire to Building HIghstown, N. J., June 13. The first day of commencement week at Peddle Institute, a Baptist preparatory prepara-tory school here, came near ending tragically last night when lightning struck the steeple of the Baptist church whero more than a thousand persons were crowded together to hear the annual orations of the graduating gradu-ating class. Panic reigned when the bolt struck and shattered the 200-foot steeplo and sent it crashing to tho earth. .nstantly eveity light was extinguished extin-guished and tho upper part of tho structure caught flro In a dozen A panic which might have resulted in thedeath of many was averted by the coolheaded orchestra leader, who directed his men to strike up, "Tho Star Spangled Banner." Tho effect was magical and the out-rush of tho audience was stemmed. Fifty women fainted or collapsed Ibefore the ushers could get the crowd out of the building, build-ing, however, and dozens were bruised and hurt In the Jam through the exits. By the time R. W. Swetland, principal, prin-cipal, had assured himself that everyone every-one was out of thc building, the fire was beyond control and there was little to do but to attempt torprevent Its spioad to tho surrounding structures. struc-tures. Tho loss will be about $600,-000. $600,-000. oo |