Evening Star Newspaper, September 30, 1896, Page 2

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1896-SIXTEEN PAGES, comparatively light, though strong enough to make people hasten to reach sheitered Places. At 10:15 o'clock it began to in- crease in velocity, and in a short time had gone up to sixty-six miles an hour. which was first recorded at 11:15 o'clock. and was maintained with little variation until 11:55, when the storm passed beyond this vicinity, and the currents changed to the southwest and gradually lost their fierce velocity. Thus, the very heaviest blow of all came between 11:15 and 11:55. a period of forty minutes, during which it Is probable that at no time was the wind blowing at a less rate than sixty-five miles an hour. On account of the storm having ap- Proached from the south, the general source of the wind early in the day was the northeast and the east, for the rule is that the airs flow in to the center of the storm, and until it has reached a certain point the wind directions at that point are generally contrary to the path of the dis- turbance. At 11 p.m. the wind had shifted to the southeast, indicating that the storm center had nearly reached this city, and it blew steadily from that direction, scarce a break, until 11:30, when it began to shift to the southwest. From these facts {t is plain that the real storm center passed Washington at about IL or 11:15 o'clock last night. Tae haro- metric record ts tion. At noon y and the: which was th rese rapidly to at midnight, and then gradually sought the normal level, which it had reached by mornins Fortu ture was high west corners of Pennsylvania avenue and 22d street were unroofed. ‘A row of houses on H street near 19th street were deprived of their roofs. A portion of the roof of the Western market was blown off. Damage was done to the roofs of the War Records Office building, at 18th and G streets. A portion of the roof of the old Van Ness house, in what is now the athletic grounds of the Columbia Club, was torn off. While passing along the street near the corner of 20th and K streets, Police Officer Joyce was struck by a fiying roof, but escaped with a few bruises. In addition to the roof being torn off from the house of Police Officer Edwards, 2207 L street, the bricks from the chimney crashed throvgh the roof into the room where the baby was sleeping, but the in- fant suffered no injury. Secretary Carlisle's residence on K street was partially unropfed, and a number of bricks from the top of the south wall sent flying around the back alley. Dr. James Dudley Morgan's residence on 15th street suffered in the same way. ‘The Fifteenth Street Colored Presbyterian Church had some of the front windows blown in and iron railings and ornaments on the towers were unfastened and are now hanging in a dangerous condition. Senater Chandler's house or I street had a front window smashed in. ‘The Normandie Hotel suffered small dam- age except by torn awnings, broken-down piping ard spouting. P'Phe roof of the bail room in the residence of Senator Stewart on Dupont circle was blown cff. "The most serious damage on 7th street was to the building at the northwest cor- ner of 7th and P streets, owned and occu- pied by William McGuire, who runs a sa- loon on the first floor. The building is four stories High. The wind toyed with the top story, first taking the roof and then tak- ing the entire story off. The roof, bricks and other articles were blown on the build- Ing next door, 1502 and 1:44 7th street. The THE METROPOLITAN RAILROAD C SR SHEDS, SOUTH WASHINGTON. rm, else the suffering caused i have been much greater. At n yesterday it was 72 degrees, and re tically stationary until 4 o'clock oon, when it gradually ros which was recorded at 10 p.m. ometer then showed a sudden in a few minutes it had gone down to 74 degrees, and rose to 78% at 11 p.m The mercury dropped after the storm cen- ter hi sd and the wind and] at midn 7 at to » storms there are severe drops of ture as well as of the barome- sure. Little Rainfall. Notwithstanding the general impression to the contrary, there was comparativ little rainfall during the storm. The fierce wind used the rain to beat heavily against walls and windows, and thus the impression of a great down pour was give But the records show that the greatest fail occurred at 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon, when the storm was south of ihe city. Af- ter that hour only about fifteen-hundreths of an inch fell, and, altogether, during the entire progress of the storm, the fall amounted to only sixty-eight-hundreths. The wind velocity attained was greater than was ever known here before. It easily broke the record for all seasons of the . As far as the statistics of the weath- er bureau go the highest velocities experi- enogd at Washington during the different mecnths of the year have been as follows: January, 46 miles; February, 60 mile: March, 48 miles; April, 43 miles; May, 30 miles; June, 48 miles; July, 6) miles; Au- 53 miles; September, 35 miles; Oc- 51 miles; November, 54 miles, and December, 49 miles. Thus it will be seen to last night the highest recorded in this city was sixty miles an and the record is therefore beaten by six miles. The wind during the St. Louis cyclone in June reached the enormous ve- locity of eighty miles an hour, which is probatly the worst pace ever attained by the air in an inland city. Higner rates are experict.ced on the coast and on moun- tain tcps. The officials of the bureau will not ac- knowledge that the storm of last night Is entitled to be called “the equinoctial,” for it Is not a scientific admission that there is any one distinct sterm of that nature. They say that the equinoctial period is liable to be marked by heavy disturbances, and that there may be half a dozen storms prevail in that time or only one, or perh: none. They do say, however, that last night's hurricane may fairly be called equinoctial in tts nature, and it is thei hope that there will be none other this year, so that the ublic, unlearned tn the lore of scien- oroiogy, can call this “the equl- noctial of "0s" to their heart’s content. IN THE NORTHWEST. Trees Blown Down and Many Houses Unroofed. A tangled mass of branches and broken trunks of trees this morning occupied a considerable part of the place of the smooth lawn shaded by stately trees in front of the White House. One great elm had fallen directly through the western gateway, while another had crashed down on the tall iron fence and broken out near- ly one entire panel. Several trees lay up- rooted, while In the case of the others great branches had been torn off. For- tunately, several of the trees destroyed were comparatively young, and a number of the venorable e!ms that contribute so much to the beauty of the grounds escaped uninjured. Men were busily engaged today in removing the debris. = On the opposite side of Pennsylvania ave- nue from the White House a somewhat similar scene might have been witnessed in Lafayette Park, where the trees had suf- fered from the fury of the wind. A num- ber of trees were blown down, and the branches lay across the walks, and during the early hours of the morning the pedes- trians were obliged to wind in and out among the trees In order to get through. Later in the day the paths were cleared. Considerable havoc was made among the “fine old trees that adorn this. park, but the destruction was not as extensive as might be feared. The trees in Washington Circle suffered severely. and in the smaller parks. Throughout the northwest section there was more or less damage done. I street between 18th and 19th was com- pletely blocked by tin roofs and pieces of boards and limbs of trees. Several houses on that block were unroofed. A singular freak of the wind resulted In removing the reof from the residence of Mr. John A. Kasson on I street between 17th and 18th streets and depositing it on street between 17th and 18th streets. Several of the chimneys on the Rich- mond, 17th and H streets, were blown down. and this morning the pavement on the H street front was roped off while men were employed in removing the loosened bricks, that were in danger of tumbling down. ‘The glass in a portion of the skylight in the roof of the gymnasium of the Colum- bia Athletic Club was blown out and the rain beat in. A small section of glass in the roof of the new Corcoran Art Gallery building was blown in, and the rain did some slight damage. This glass is unusually thick and the accident shows the tremendous force of the wind. Along Pennsylvania avenue, north of 17th street, the path of the storm was clearly indicated by the wrecks of tin roofs and the fallen trees. The roof of Green's Hall, on the avenue near 17th street, was partially removed. The stores at the southeast and south- load was teo heavy for this building and the roof sank in. This building is occupied by Charles Jordan. The upper story was used as sleeping apartments of Mr. Jord: and his family. Had they been in their rooms they would have been killed, as the weight of the debris which went into the rooms was imme! Their furniture was wrecked, and even the store on the first ficor damaged. Mr. Jordan and his family were visiting friends and escaped. Mr. Mc- Guire’s barkeeper occupied a room on the fourth floor of his building. He would probably have been killed had he been in his room, the walls of ich, as stated, being blown almost bodity on the next building. All the furniture in the rooms on the fourth floor rolled on top of the debris. Mr. McGuire estimates his damage at $3,000. With true philosophy, he says he is glad he escaped with his life. The building next to Mr. McGuire is owned by the es- tate of John Young. In the center of the block pounded by 6th and 7th and N and O streets are two stables, one owned by J. W. Gregg, a milk man, and the other operated by Harry Daly. The latter is a large structure. Both buildings were recently built. The roof of the Daly stable was lifted up and carried to the top of buildings on 7th street. The brick work was also damaged. It was not the tin roof alone, but the rafters and all which went with the wind. Mr. Gregg's building was similarly treated. Mr. Gregz nks the damage to his buildin reach over $100. : ese alinge pane four houses at 619, 617, 615 and G13 L Street were unroofed. They belong to Thomas Kirby. The chimneys and shutters went along with the roof. The streets arovnd the Northern Liberty Market are strewn with pieces of tin which left the roof of the building, as well as the sheds around the building, but no other Bai oa was ce ne. e roof of the building at and that at 6% L are of "| © Ut street On N street between 9th and 10th are three consecutive buildings which will have to have new roofs. One of these is occupied by Wm. J. Zeh as a store. On ith street between R and S three telephone poles were blown over on the buildings on the east side of the street. They did no damage, as the full weight did not rest on the buildings. A telephone pole on the seme square was blown into the tmlddle cf the street and blocked the cars. The efforts to move it were futile until a big gust of wind made its appearance. It took possession of the pole and easily lifted it to one side of the street. ‘This was witnessed by several people. Three small houses on 12th between U and V streets are minus roofs. Nearly every tree in Marion street, which is between Q and R and 6th and 7th streets, was uprooted, and there is a perfect cross- work of trees. Several stories were afloat early in the morning that LeDroit Park had been badly handled, bui, with the exception of limbs and leaves scattered here and there, that portion of the city has probably suffered less than others. There are fewer roofless houses than elsewhere. The house occu- Pied by Dr. Grace, at 345 Florida avenue, is short a tin roof. At 329 T street is the same state of affairs. The houses at 206, 210, 305 and 319 Wil- son street, occupied, respectively, by Lewis Howard, Mrs. Taylor, W. H. Porter and Edward Lewis, had the roofs torn off. Nos. 1 and 2 Howard row were handled in the same way. The iron frame in front of the drug store of Offutt & Blumer, on 14th street, corner of U, was wrecked. A colored man, name unknown, who was standing under the awning waiting for a car, came in col- Usion with flying pieces of the awning frame and was painfully hurt. The roof of the building 1437 U ‘street was lifted by the wind and carried to the roof of the building at 2109 Porter place, two buildings to the rear. The roof of the Porter place building concluded to imitate its flying neighbor, and also left its at- tachments. The trees on T street, from 1st to 14th, seem to have incurred the enmity of the wind, as they suffered heavily. Along the territory mentioned the street is blockaJed with fallen trees. Several large trees on that street, between 13th and 14th, went down before the wind. On L street, between J3th and 14th, a telephone pole was parted in the middle, literally twisted apart, one part going one way and another in an opposite direction. The rear of the roof of the building at 916 New York avenue was blown to the front and hangs over the front of the house. Ninth street has suffered no special dam- age, compared with the work of the wind in other directions: The tracks of the Met- ropolitan road were easily cleared of the limbs and other obstructions, and the care ran without much delay. The lith street cars found no great difficulty in getting started and making schedule time this morning. Among the other buildings badly wrecked were Poole’s grocery store, on F bear 12th street, which had its windows demolished. and E. F. Hill's grocery, at 12th and C streets northwest, where the entire south- ern wall was blown out. No one was in- jured. The tower of the Grand Opera House, over the corner at 15th and E streets, was blown down. ‘The front walls of two houses it 13% and D streets were blown down at the second story. The roof was blown off of Enders’ dry goods store, 909 7th street, the show win- dows smashed and the skylights shattered. King’s Palace, on 7th street, lost all 1:8 large show windows and the roof was blown from the back building. The windows of Lansburgh’s stores were badly shattered. . The wall of the front third-story of Budd's confectionery stqre, on 9th street near F, was also blown out, and the roof of the building torn off. The front of the eight-story Inter-Ocean building next door at No. 512 9h street was cracked in many places, and this morning the police notified the building inspector of its dangerous and threatening condition. ‘There is probably not ten square feet of the front wall of the building that does not show vertical cracks, extending even through brown stone copings and silis of the windows, and there are similar cracks in the rear. Capt. A. A. Thomas, president of the company owning the building, said today that the framework was steel, and that the cracks In the front wall did not en- danger the stability of the structure. The United States patent office was also a victim of the fierce elements. When the stcrm was at its height, several hundred square feet of the copper roofing at the southeast corner of the marble edifice was tern from its fastenings and a large part of it blown into the park below, while great pieces were hung cver the cornices. It will need careful examination to ascer- tain the extent of the damage. ‘The roof of the Pullman building, at No. 935 Pennsylvania avenue, was blown off and the front wall so badly sprung that it is In a dangerous condition, and will prob- ably have to come down. The roof was also taken off of M. Goldsmith's store at 911 Pennsylvania avenue, and glass broken in the upper stories. The plate glass windows in the door of Cline Brothers, 909 Pennsylvania avenue, and in the show window of Mayer's, a few docrs above, were shattered by the slates which blew from the roof of the Electric Advertising Display Company across the avenue near 9th street. The immense plate glass window in J. W. Boteler’s crockery house, No. 923 Pennsyl- vania avenue, was crushed, and $600 worth of fine china broken. An especially violent gust broke in the big south window of W. H. Hoeke at Sth and Market space, and, going through the angle, took out two equally large plates on 8th street. About $706 damage was done to the fine furniture by flying glass. ‘The roof of Ratcliffe, Sutton & Co. at 920 Pennsylvania avenue was taken off, and the new shed of the Independent Ice Com- any on D street was completely demol- ished. The windows of James F. Oyster’s butter house were blown in and this morn- ing torn to pieces. The plate-glass front of S. Kann & Sons, Sth and Market space, was blown in and the handsome assortment of silks and mil- Mmery it contained nearly ruined. The roofs of two of the buildings occupied by tke Boston Variety Store were blown off and the window of King’s Palace next door was blown in. Saks & Co. exrerienced great damage. The entire 7th street plate-glass front, from the corner of Market space to the big 7th street entrance, was torn out and one of the large plates on Market space smash- ed. Glass was also broken in the upper stories, The south gable of the civil service com- mission building at 8th and E streets was demolished and the roof over the rear of the structure ripped off. A large por tion of the rcof of the sixth auditor's office adjoining on E street was blown from its fastenings. The roof of the Volks Tribune office on E street near 9th was deposited in £ street, and the window of Carl Jaeger’s tailor shop at 802 E street smashed into smith- ereen; The roof was taken off the establish- tnent of Philip T. Hall, on F street near th, and carried over near the patent of- fice. The roof of the Houghton Compan building, F street above 12th, was blown across the street, and the show windows of Robinson, Chery and Company and Mor- ton C. Stout were broken. The roof was also taken off S. 8. Shedd's establishment at 432 th street, and the roof and a part of the cornice of No. 711 th street was demolished. The roofs were removed from houses No. 513 13th street, Nos. 806 and SUS I street, 916, 921, 1000, 2 and 1214 New York avenue, 1204, street and 943 K street. Very few houses in the central portion of the city escaped shutters tor off or windows blown in or fences blown down. The Academy of Music suffered the loss of nearly all its window § » and the C street fence of the new city post office was leveled. Signs were wrecked in every di- rection. The electric sign of N. Sickle, at 1011 Pennsylvania avenue, was blown from the roof into the back yard and ruined, and the signs of the New York World were blown to pieces. The residence of wMrs. C. P. Ingersoll, 1526 P street, lost Its tin roof, which this morning lay in a battered heap in the street in front of the house. The family were naturally much frightened and took refuge next door, in the house of Mr. A. B. Browne. A high brick chimney on the house of Mr. J. T. Granger, 1441 Rhode Island avenue, was blown over, and the heavy mass of bricks ploughed {ts way through the roof over the hallway, opening up the interior of the house to the ravages of the storm. Mr. Granger and his family have not yet returned to the city, but the servants worked all night removing furniture and carpets, so that the damage should be as little as possible. O§ and 1212 K CENTRAL SECTION. The Storm Raged Flercely and Did Great Damage. In the central or business portion of the elty the devastation wreaked by the hur- ricane wes enormous. Buildings were crushed in, roofs torn off, windows smash- ed, awnings riddled to pieces and their iron supports broken and twisted into utter uselessness, while every street showed a vista filled with fallen trees and mbs torn from the trunks that remained standing. For two hours the wind, unparalleled in tkis section of the country for its steady ferceity, blew like a tempest, spreading de- struction in every direction. The electric, telephcne and telegraph wires succumbed early in the storm and then the buildings began to be wrecked. Tree limbs, flying timters, tin and copper roofs went tum- bling along the thoroughfares, while above this dargerous debris was a hail of speed- ing slate torn from the tops of houses and carried before the tornado like birds. The most exciting incident of the storm down town was the demolition of the west wall of the handsome new building, betong- ing to the Abert estate, in course of crec- tion at 1213 Pennsylvania avenue. The front of the building was wide open to the gale and the wind entering between the side walls strained them apart until the immense iron girders could hold them no longer. Suddenly the west wall gave way and hundreds of tons of brick went crash- ing down on the roofs of Nos. 1215 and 1217 Pennsylvania avenue, adjoining on the west, occupied, respectively, by Charles T. Beatty's saloon and T. M. Kelly's dining room. The roofs of these structures were crushed like pie crust, and the enormous mass went through the third, second and first floors as though they were tissue paper, carrying thelr splintered timbers into the cellars. When the crash came Messrs. B. H. Beatty, Frank McClain, William Baker and Frd:k Campbell were in the rear of Beatty’s place. Mr. E. W. Bicunt was in the front room, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Finley were in their apart- ments on the second floor. All were tim prisoned in the building, but with the ex- ception cf Mr. Blount were rescued imme- diately after the disaster, having miracu- lously escaped injury, with the exception of a few bruises. Mrs. Finley wag re- moved in a hysterical condition to a friend’s house near by, but soon recovered. None of the inmates of the building could tell how the accident happened, having been overwhelmed without warning. Messrs. T. U. Kelly, the proprietor; G. W. McCormick, the manager of the dining room at No. 1217; Charles Coleman, a col- cred waiter, and George Sutton, the cook, were also caught in the crash. Kelly and McCormick were thrown out in the street, the latter having his face cut by a flying piece of glass. Sutton and Coleman, like Mr. Blount, were imprisoned in the ruins. An alarm which was sent out brought the fire engines’ and police reserves to the scene and the work of rescue was begun. An entrance was forced through the rear of 1219 Pennsylvania avenue, and the work of attacking the debris was begun. After an hour's labor, Mr. Blount was extri- cated and removed to Emergency Hospital in a serious condition, internal injuries be- ing feared. He was also badly bruised, but no bones were broken. George Sutton was rescued at 2:45 a.m. His right thigh was badiy mashed. He was also taken to Emergency Hospital. Coleman extricated himself and went home, while the firemen were looking for him. The same terrible gust that created the havoc above described also demolished the large steeple of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. The steeple blew down directly toward the north, filling H street with a mass of twelve-inch timbers, tin and framework 30 feet high, agd com- pletely blocking the thoroughfare. The point of the steeple struck the iron fence in front of the National Medical College, breaking it like pipe stems. The damage to the church will be about 32,000. WEST OF SEVENTH STREET. Some of the Damage Caused by the Wind. The following is a list of some of the houses unroofed. On E street northwest houses 13, 14, 17 and 19 had their roofs car- tied away, while house No. 11 was slightly damaged. Wm. H. H. Cissell’s mill, at the corner of E and North Capitol streets, had its roof damaged. Across the street the | roof on the office of Acker’s stone yard was carried away. Capitol Park was badly treated. The wind tore down the fences and deposited the grand stand in the street. Tie planing mil of T. S. Smith was also damaged. 'T. A.\Rover’s storehouse on H street was unroofed and badly damaged. Houses 27 and 2 Hf street lost their roofs. The building next:to the Police Court was unroofed, as was te Central Union Mission building. A part of the-roof of the Metro- politan Hotel was-damaged. The wind played-havoc: with the roof of St. Aloysius Churth. It ripped it off cs though it had been:paper and sent it scur- rying and crashjng into the street. The Assembly Chierch, at the corner of 5th and I streets, was damaged, the roof and tower being Injured. With the exception of the breaking of a number of panes of glass, Trinity Churca escaped the ravages of the storm. A peculiar feature of the storm’s work was scen on the south side of H street be- tween 4th and 5th streets northwest. Here a whole row of fine shade trees was stricken down, while on the opposite side of the street there was little damage done. The roofs of an entire row of brick houses from 56 to 74 I street northeast were car- ried away. The roof on the papa) legation was also numbered among the missing this morning. As the roof of the Seaton school building went scurrying away, several heavy beams dropped on the ‘house occupled by W. O. Wetzel, immediately next door to the west. Already the roof of this house had been car- ried away, and when the big beams came down upon the little house, they met with little obstruction and kept going. A gentle- man who occuples'a front room was awak- ened by a beam Jamming itself through the veiling and just missing the bed. | Down stairs there was great confusion. The oc- cupants of the house were terrified, and would not venture into the street, although the debris from the surrounding buildings was falling everywhere on the house. Fin- ally the police came and forced them to leave the house. NORTH SECTION. Not So Severe, but Much Minor Dam- nge Done. It would seem that the northeast section of the city and the suburban districts to the north of it suffered somewhat less in the storm than perhaps any other section of the city and District. True, many of the streets in the section are thickly strewn with fallen trees and branches, and nu- merous houses are tcday minus their roofs, but {t seems, nevertheless, that the force of the wind was rot so great here as elsc- where. However, about every District te egraph and telephone wire in the section making another in was rendered useless, strong and unanswerable argument favor of underground wires, a proje: long and earnestly advocated by The The lack of such underground system of wires, as was pointed out by a policeman of the ninth precinct today, placed this sec- tion, if not the entire city and District. in a practically helpless condition. No loss of life is reported as having occurred in the northeast section, the greater part of the damage resulting from the storm being un- roofed houses, demolished trees and a prac- tically complete paralyzation of the District telegre ph and telephone systems. A telegraph pole in front of 308 E street ncrtheast was broken, and hangs in a very dangerous condition. The roof of the store of Sadie Houck, the old-time base ball player, 811 H street, was badly damaged, the roof being carried across the street, and the front and bay window were -wreeked. Three houses on .C street between War- ren and lth streets northeast were un- roofed. - ‘The patrol box at 2d street and Massa- chusetts avenue northeast was badly brcken, the wires being rendered useless. Several howses:at llth and D_ streets northeast werg unreofed, as was a house on the south side.of, B street between 13th and Uth. The eatrance to the alley on 3d street be- tween D and’ E was blocked by a large tin roof. athig The roof and gable end of a liyery stable In alley between and 4th and D and B streets hortheast were blown off. ‘A house in course:of construction on Ben- nirg road near 20th street northeast was demolished... Several houses near Tennessee avenue and F street noftheast were unrooted. Poles of the Western Union Telegraph Ccmpany on ‘Florida avenue between 6th and 7th streets nertheast were blown down {n great numbers, completely blocking the roadway. The roofs' of houses 627 and 629 Florida avenue northeast were taken off. It was reported at tho ninth precinct fo- day that a collision between a Columbia railroad cable car and a Baltimore and Chio train was narrowly avoided at the H street crorsing last evening. The cable car was caught between the gates, it was reported, when the motorman ‘plunged through’ the opposite gate to avoid the approaching train. There was consider- A Street Scene. able excitement among the passengers on the cable car, many jumping from it. No one was injured, however, and the damage to the street car was sald to be trifling. Bladensburg road between the grounds of Straus & Co., florists, and the city was completely blockaded by fallen telegraph peles, and Straus & Co. were reported to have suffered considerably. House 1116 K street northeast was un- rcofed, and the bricks crushed down into the bed room Fortunately no one was hurt. Markward’s store, 1216 H street north- east, suffered corsiderably, being unroofed and not a little wrecked. Three stores on H street between 11th and 12th streets northeast lost their roofs and were otherwise damaged. The District telegraph and _ telephone wires in the ninth police precinct were damaged t> such an extent that the sta- tion is today cut off completely, even com- munication with police headquarters being impossible. “‘Such a thing as that,” said one of the officers in the precinct to a Star reporter, “‘could not kave happened had the wires been placed underground. We cannct even telephone or telegraph word of a fire.” 2 a The roof antl cornice of E. G. H. Austin’s store, 811 Histreet northeast, were blown away, as were the rcof of Price's store, 805 H street, and theyroof of E. Wold’s bak- ery, same street zbetween Ist and North Capitol streets. A° house on the opposite side of the street was similarly damaged. Five houses at 18th and D streets north- east, belonging ta Mr. Bradshaw of 901 € street northeast, lost their roofs, as did houses 232 and 234-th street northeast. While passjng tke corner of 12th and C streets northeast the windows of an Eck- ington car on one,gide were blown out. THE SOUTHEAST SECTION. Storm Inspired ,.Terror and Wrought (, Mugh Havoe. The entire: southeastern section of the city abounds! with scenes of destruction, which were «wrought by the furious storm of last night. Many of the residents were terror- stricken, and in numerous instances whole families did not venture to go to bed all night. In some cases persons moved their furniture from the upper portions of the house to the lower, being evidently under the impression that the first story of the building was the safest while the cyclone was raging. As if to add to the fright of the people the wind, during this period, tore off the roof of the herdic stables, at 10th, 11th and C streets southeast. As the roof fell to the ground it made a noise that could be distinctly heard nearly a mile away. ‘There is hardly a street in the south- eastern part of the city that is not strewn with limbs of trees, and in many cases travel, except by pedestrians, is entirely blocked by trees, which have been torn up by the rocts, and which extend entirely across the highway. This is notably the case on North Carolina avenue between Ist and 2d streets, D street between 2d ana 3d and A street between 6th and 7th streets. Buildings Injured. The ship ‘house at the navy yard had a part of the south end blown out, and it also lost a portion of its roof; a block of twelve brick houses on F street between 1st and 24, another on Hector street in the rear of the above, and a third, also of twelve, on G street between Ist and 2d, ell of which are being erected by Messrs. Leck and Weller, were unroofed and were otherwise damaged. Other buildings in- jured were a house on the south side of N street between Ist and 2d streets; two on M street between 3d and 4th; one on 2d between M and N_ street; one at 3d street and Georgia avenue; four houses on C sireet, from Nos. 121 ‘to 127, inclusive; also the houses 101 to 115 on the same street. On D street between 6th and 7th hardly a single house escaped damage to its roof. T EEacente ft Judge Kim- ball, on North Carolina avenue between 6th and 7th streets, suffered in like man- ner. . Telegraph wires are down or the poles much damaged on B street between h and 13th; at the corner of Ist and G streets; four on E street between South Capitol and Ist. Most of the poles are regarded as being in a dangerous condition, being for the most part held in place by the wires attached to them. In many other places the poles cre reported to be in an extreme- ly dangerous position. Other damage sustained was by Mr. M. Kaufman, 8th and L streets, and Mr. S. Bieber, adjoining, whose awnings were carried away; the roof of Messrs. Talbot & Boteler’s undertaking establishment, which was carried by the wind across the cable car tracks; roof of Ebenezer Church, corner of 4th and D streets; the Central house at the marine barracks, also roofs of 48 B street, 111 B street, Baker's cigar store, 2d and BR atreet: Frank Nolte’s restaurant, 8th and I streets, and others, While the storm was at its height must of the gas and electric lamps went out, and that portion of Washington was in dark- ness during the remainder of the night. ON THE OUTSKIRTS. Trees and Roofs Suffered Up on the Heights, In the northern part of the city, all that section embraced in the eighth precinct, the storm raged with tremendous force. Trees are blown down, many houses were unroofed, windows by the hundreds were blown in, and in some pla the streets were almost impassable today. The Chinese legation, on 14th street, pre- sents a badly damaged appearance today. The top of the tower at the southwest cor- ner of the building, which was quite a fea- ture of the architecture, was blown com- pletely off, and the roof was broken in sev- eral places by the falling stones. Over the crest of the hillg on the north- ern edge of the city, Columbia Heights and Washington Heights, the wind blew with passible, a number of big trees having blown d:rectly across the stree The rogf of engine house No. 7, on R street between ¥th and 19th streets, was so badly raised and bent that it will have to be entiraly rebuilt. Foreman Wagner bad a very narrow escape from being dash- ed to death. The fire alarm system was out of order and he kept his men on watch all right, and patrolling the neighborhood on the lookout for fires. When the sky Was lighted :p by the fire across the river the foreman went up on to the roof to see if he could locate it. A gust of wind threw him down as if he had been a straw, but he managed to grasp one of the fire alarm wires which run over the roof, and he kung on to that until a second blast came along. The heavy wire snapped like a psece of twine and again he was thrown down. He lay there until there was a mo- ment’s lull in the storm, which cnablei him to crawl slowly to the trap door and £0 on down to safety. Belmont, the handsome house of Mr. A. L. Barber, at the head of 14th street, ¢. caped pretty well, but the force of the wind is well shown by the fact that a number of tiles were wrenched off the conical tower which surmounts the house. A dozen or more fine trees in the grounds were torn up by the roots. The houses of Dr. Bunnemeyer, Theodore Friebus and Charles G. Ringwalt, 1433-35-37 U street, were badly damaged, and the roofs were entirely blown off. Mrs. Ring- walt had a narrow escape from injury from falling bricks. The house 23 Portner place, was also wrecked. The tempcrary entrance to the Zoological Park from Columbia road was closed to traffic today by a huge tree which was blown across the road. One of the heavy losers by the storm ts the congregation of the Salem Colored Bap- ust Church. The church owned a fine lot on Champlain avenue, and not long ago an attractive and commodious building was erected, which greatly enhanced its oppor- tunities for evangelical work in that neigh- borhood. The building was of brick and frame, and the wind razed it to a level with the ground. The wreck is complete, and the church is today without a home. The pastor, Rev. S. G. Lamkins, has issu an earnest appeal to the Christian people of Washington for contributions to aid in the work of rebulidirg. The appeal says: “The rescue and revival work that has been done by the Salem Baptist Church is well known to the citizens of Washington who have followed closely the public press. Our total indebtedness on the ground and building ts about $3,300. With this out of the way we will proceed at once to erect a new brick structure. I make this appeal therefore, to the God loving and people of Washington, to whose C benevolence and sympathy a worthy «. has never been presented in vain, to to the re and congregaticn and help us erect a build- ing for God; and let us all pray that the glory of the latter house may is than the first. Mr. John Ross, j dent of the board of Commissioners of District of Columbia, has ¥ ndly con- me cue of this unfortunate church sented to act as treasurer hold all moneys subscribed for this noble cause ty the public. Wayland Seminary, 15th and Chapin ND AND SEABOARD COMPANY'S WHARF. wild fury, and the only wonder is that there were not more houses blown down. Mr. W. Henderson Moses’ handsome resi- dence on Wyoming avenue, facing south, had nothing in front of it to bre&k the force of the gale, and suffered se ly. An elaborate porte cochere on the west side was cut off as if with a great ax, and a portion of the piazza was carried away with it. Several chimneys toppled over, but, fortunately, no one was hurt. The damage will probably amount to a couple of thousand dollars or more. Genuine regret will be felt by every one at the havoc that was done among the beautiful trees in Oak Lawn, the fine prop- erty at the head of Connecticut avenue. Fully half of them are down or badly broken, and the magnificent oak beside Mrs. Deane’s residence, which has always been considered as fine a tree as there is in the District, lost some o: its branches. A brick house on Brightwood avenue owned by A. Loeffler was blown down, but no one was injured. House No. 920 Whitney averue was blown over. There were six people in it at the time, but all escaped unhurt with the ex- ception of Herbert Ford, who had his head severely cut. A windmill in the rear of 2308 6th street now les stretched out on the ground. Ry- an's blacksmith shop, #218 7th street, is down. The big windows in the front of Grace M. E. Church were blown out and covered the whole of the street for half a square with shattered glass. Policeman MeDon- ald was standing near the corner when the windows fell. One went on one side of him and one on the other. McDonald made a break for a big tree on the opposite side of the street, but no sooner had he reached it than the tree fell. Then he sought ref- uge by a nearby treebox, and a minute later a tin roof was carried off a neighbor- ing house and wrapped about the treebox. McDonald, thinking that discretion was in order, ran for the middle of 7th street, pre- ferring to dodge cable cars to getting out of the way of trees and houses. Three frame houses were being moved yesterday and were left standing in the middle of Sherman avenue. They were raised from the ground on rollers and the wind didn’t do a thing to them but turn them over on their sides. Mr. 8. W. Woodward's house on Wyoming averue had a bay window blown off. A large section of the fence was also carried away. Mrs. Annie Jenncss Miller's handsome house on Phelps place, which is rapidly nearing completion, also suffered. A lot of fine plate-glass was put In only yesterday, and now it will take several hundred dol- lars to replace the glass that was blown out last night. Commissioner Truesdell’s house escaped @ithout any serious damage, but a number of the fine trees which surround it were broken off or uprooted. ‘A heavy tin roof from Le Roy place was blown clear over into Califorra avenue near Columbia road. The policeman on the beat, Officer Geaghan, notified the owner of the house that if he was looking for his roof he might find it a biock and a half farther up the hill. Night Stationkeeper Cook of the eighth precinet made the following entry in the “incidental book:” “From 10 to 12 o'clock, inclusive, a fierce hurricane of wind and rain raged in the city, doing great damage to life and prop- erty. The oldest inhabitants say they never witnessed the like.” The policemen at the station this morning were worrying him considerably by com- menting on his bravery in venturing out during the storm to interview the oldest in- habitants. Local pase ball enthusiasts would hardly recognize the scene of the recent great struggle for ninth place. The gates to the base ball park are all down, and the fence ‘on the east side, which was covered all over with big painted signs, was completely de- molished. One of the big trees near the left foul line was snapped off like a match about ten feet from the ground. ‘The grand stand weathered the gale nice- ly, and the bleachers did not get very much the worst of it. A little frame church on Champlain ave- nue was blown down, and a number of small houses in ‘“‘the camp’ were badly battered. During the height of the storm a man came running into the station house with the request that a force of policemen be sent to tle down the roof of his house, as he feared it might be blown off. This request was not complied with. To print a list of the houses that were unroofed would be like printing pages from the city directory or tax records. Up to 10 o'clock this morn- ing upward of 200 had been reported at the station house, and this represents only a small fraction of the number in that sec- tion of the city. In many cases whole rows were unroofed at one time, the tin being literally rolled right up and off like so mauch paper. 'T. streat between Sth and 9th was im- streets, was considerably damaged by the storm. A portion of the roof was carried away and the buildings were otherwise in- jured. Gen. D. W. Flagler's fine house on Cali- fornia avenue was one of the houses on Washington Heights that caught the brunt of the storm. A heavy brick chimney toppled over, carrying with it a portion of the roof and the upper walls. RAILROADS BLOCKED. ~ Trains From the rived. The stesm railroads entering this city ex- bertenced trouble as a result of the storm. Up to 9 o'clock this morning the three great through trains from the south and west, the train arriving from the west over the Chesapeake and Ohio, from Jackson- ville over the Atlantic Coast Line and from Jacksonville over the Southern, ali due be- fore breakfast time, had not arrived. More- ever, it was not known at that hour where these trains were. The telegraph wires were down, and no word could be received as to their whereabouts. The train for the west over the Chesa- peake and Ohiv, and for the south over the Southern, which left Washington last night, were stopped at Alexandria, and were still there this morning. They could not Ppro- ceed because train orders could not be giv- en them. The northbound trains had the right of way, were overdue, and no train could venture upon the single track line until they were heard from. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad also suf- fered inconvenience. There was only slight delay in the running of the trains between Baltimore and Washington, as there is a double track, and the disablement of the wires did not interfere very much. The trains from the west were several hours late, however. The crews of the incoming trains reported great damage along the line in the vicinity ot Weshington. Many small houses were blown down and numbers of them unroofed, while the woods showed the passage of the storm by hundreds cf fallen trees. Frank H. Thomas of this city left Balti- more last evening on the 11 o'clock Balti- more and Ohio train, but did not arrive here until 2:30 this morning. He says the wind blew with such force that at times the train came to a star-dstill, the trainmen fearing that the cars would be blown from the track. Obstructions were on the trac which had to be removed, and occasionally broke 1 limts of trees hung over the track and would sweep along over the cars and cn the windows, creating consternation. Mr. Thomas says the trip was indeed peril- ous and the passengers were generally much alarmed. The first news from Richmond reached Washington soon after 9 o'clock, when the train from the south over the Atlantic Coast line came in. It was nearly three hours late. The trainmen reported that the siorm wrought considerable damage in Richmond, blowing down several church steeples and unrooting one of the large re- tall clothing ‘establishments and numerous smaller houses. At Quantico several houses were unroofed and demolished, but as far as known, no lives were iost. The train- men reported that the storm was severe all along the line from Wilmington, N. C., to Washington. Nothing had been heard from the Chesa- peake and Ohio train from the west up to noon today. The train over the Southern | railway was still unreported, and no wires | were working. The New York train over the Pennsylvania railroad arrived half an hour late. Slight damage was reported along the line, but the trainmen said the storm appeared to have been more severe right around Washington than anywhere else. South bound trains were dispatched from the depot here today, as usual. The Rich- mond train expects to get through on time, but the others are not so certain, and will probably not move beyond Alexandria until the wires are working again. Electric Road. The Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon railroad was tied up for a short time last night by the falling of the large semaphore signal at the north end of the Long bridge, which disabled the trolley wire. The damage was repaired, however, | and trains were running on time this morn- ing between Washington and Alexandria. The Mt. Vernon branch of the road was more unfortunate. This line runs through the wvods, and falling trees had damaged the trolley wire in several places. A work train was dispatched ear!y this morning to 1epair the Gemage, and passenger trains will be run as soon as possible. uth Have Not Ar- |: < ALEXANDRIA WAS PARALYZED Loss of Life and Great Property Destruction in the Old City. Four Persons Killed by the Storm- Damage Estimated to Amount to $400,000. Alexandria was most severely storm- Swept. As a result of last night's furious blow, four persons lost their lives and three others are known to have been more or less injured, while scores of others recelved slight injuries or escaped miraculously with their lives. The damage to property is estimated at $400,000. The dead are: W. D. Stuart, 501 Cameron street; killed by a falling wall. Mrs. Holt of North Carolina, visiting on Peyton street extended; killed by falling roof. Colored woman, name unknown, North Fairfax street; crushed. Tilman Diles, colored, North Patrick street; died of shock. ‘The injured are: Miss Stuart, 501 Cameron street, sister of W. D. Stuart; severely cut and bruised by falling roof. Lottie Corbin, colored; badly hurt by falling well Charles Adams; struck by flying bricks; not seriously hurt Worst on Record, Last night's storm ts regarded as the most severe in intensity and disastrous In r during the memory of the oldest inhabl- tents. There is not of one a square which escaped in- jury nd or another, From the mver front to th burbs, on all sides, the besom of de wrought its devastat- ing work. nh snapped short off, : wires of all kin anglel on t with the rem d into odd shapes or tightly like i of pet; uproc portions of k and with them; S strew the uts; loose ¢ ij ne ow er molished chimneys He scattered everywhere. munication Cat OM. The fury of the storm was first felt short- ly after 10 o'clock, and it did not abate its force until raidnigh oday there is no | tclephone service within the city itself, nor munication be established with the outside world by either telephone or tele- graph. One peculiarity of the storm was its selection of substantial brick structures upen which to wreak its fury. Frame houses in all sections of the city end sub- Ny unscathed, Out at veral frame cottages have been erected, and which stood direct- ly in the pat the gale, there are no apparent d same is true of the frame struciures in sheltered and ex- 1 ons of Alexandria, But brick have been unroofed, brick ware- ses blown in, brick churches leveled. Damage to Church After the lors of life and pers the greatest loss is probat churches, and unfortunate al injury y to the various this damage falls almost entirely on the colored race. Roberts Chapel, Tocated on South Wash- irgton strect, a handsome brick building recently ec t consecrated, was badly w r part of the front wall, with windows, was lown in and the roof injured. The hand- some spire was blown away completely. This will be a severe loss to the congrega- as they had to work very hard to jete the edifice, which was not only a credit to their race, but to the city. The will amount to over a thousand dol- > Patrick Street Baptist Church, also rolored place of worship, is completely demolished, and will have to be rebuilt from the ground. The only part of the Wuilding remaining in position is a brick out fifty feet tall at the corner. ng, though occupied, had not entirely completed inside, and the been windcws on the upper floor were not glazed, uently the wind had full play. The age in this case will be many thou- nds of dollars. This, too, was a hand- some edifice. The litte Baptist (white) Chapel located in Wheat and Suter’s subdivision was blown almost off its foundation, and will have to be rebuilt. The old First Baptist Church, colored, ts a complete wreck, but as it had been aban- conse doned the loss is not so great. Other churches had slight damage done to their roofs, Trees and Wires Down. The damage from the storm may be fourd on nearly every square in the city, to a smaller or larger extent. Trees are ‘down, carrying with them fences and in many instanees the are smashed in by brick walls, and side walls of houses their weight. King street, from end to end, is lined with faHen raph poles, many of which were snapped off at the base, as though th had been straws, the wires of telephone, telegraph and elec- tric light companies being in one tangled mass. Tin roofs in many instances could be seen hanging on wires left standing, and the streets were strewn with roofing of all kinds, slate, shingles and tin, many of which were a great distance from the buildings to which they belonged. City Engineer Dunn had a force of men on the streets at an early hour this morning, and the streets have been to a certain ex- tent made passable. The Loss of Life. The loss of life was greater than ever be fore in any casualty of the kind In the recollection of the oldest inhabitants. The first death reported was that of Mr. W. D. Stewert, an old and respected citizen, ané a prominent member of Alexandria-Wash- ington Lodge of Masons. He was asleep in his room, in a two-story frame dwelling, 3 Camercn street. On the same floor his ster was sleeping. Between 1030 and 31 o'clcck there a tremendous crash, the west wall of 51 Cameron street falling im and carrying with it the roof of Mr. Stew- e, catching him in bed and crush- ing the Ii of him, and severely in- juring his Mr. Stewart's remains were recovered from the debris and taken to Demaine’s undertaking establishment to be prepared for burial. Mrs. Holt of North Carolina was visiting her son, who lives in one of Wheat & Suter’s new houses on Peyton street ex- tended. The roof of the house was blown completely away, and the bricks and tim- bers fell upon Mrs. Holt as she lay in bed, crushing her almost beyond recognition. Mrs. Holt had just arrived in Alexandria on a visit to her son, who had lately moved into the house. The wrecked buildings are entirely new and have been completed but a few months, and were among the handsomest buildings in the city. A Complete Wreck. The wreck of this building, which ts part of a double house, was one of the worst in the city. The house is a complete wreck and must be entirely rebuilt from the sec- ond floor. Other buildings in this Imme- diate neighborhood, all of which are new and substantial, were unroofed. There was a colored woman who lived in — was completely demolished u ground floor up, she being caught in the wreckage ard killed. Tilman Diles, nother victim, died from | the shock caused by his roof blowing away. | He was sick in bed in a house on Park’ | plece, in the northwestern part of the | city, and the shock was too much for him H tand. |S ottle Corbin, colored, was severely in- | jured by the building in which she was | sleeping being demolished over her head. Mr. Charles Adams was struck on the head by a falling brick and received @ scalp wound. He is able to be out. All Sections Visited. | It would be hard to say where the most | damage was done, for the storm swept | with equal severity over all parts of the ‘city, and buildinss are unroofed on all | sides. Business is completely paralyzed, jand there is no telephone or telegraph | connection with the outside world. The | Washington, Alexandria and Mt. Vernon Railway Company were unable to start a (Continued on tenth page) sults of any that has visited Alexandria ®