The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-23
znE REoENr sEHERE STORM.

~, .vd,.noes hiring us intelligence of the severity Of
,ba recent heavy storms at the East. and the destruction
n ! Iarre amount Of property. The Harrisburg Tele-
graph Of saturday last says:
A terrible storm of wind and rain occurred last even
,g continuing for about an hour. The wind blow a
paiect hurricane, and the rain descended IN torrents
The suddeuness and severity Of the storm caused pedes-
t,tans on the streets, and the crowd OF men about the
slroion windows at the courthouse, to scatter In all d.
rrctions and seek shelter. High winds prevailed through
nut the night, and ii is feared that considerable damage
40 nroperty Was done Ia the country, and at various
points along Che river.
A gentleman who arrived here this morning from
Cbarks ferry, having left there at three o'clock, Informs
us that about seven o'clock last evening hye spans Of the
LdIye of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Csioh Company
- V9at Mace were blown down. Three spans were left
Standing In the middle Of the river, and three men, sup
nased TO be wateImen, were upon these at the time tho
ntbes fell. Such wasthe violence of the storm that pen
sons an either side of the river feared 10 go to their
,osrne and tho men we're left in this perilous position,
cut off from all communication with the land, and with
oloomy prospect before them. When our informant
III attbree O'Clock this morning, the three spans were
stll standing, and the men supposed to be In safety,
A gentleman, crossing with a wagon at the time Of the
sto,m. made q very narrow escape, the span at the east
ern shore falling IN about two minutes after he passed
over Il. The wreck of the bridge passed down the river
NM. morning about six O'Clock. Our informant states
that ARRANGEMENTS had been made to rescue the men from
tLeir peIilous position on the standing spans this morn
inc A number Of RATS were blown across the river, and
one or two over the dam but no lives were lost accord
inc TO our last report. Id is feared that the storm played
sad havoc with the RATS at various points along the river
between this place and ~Sunbury, and also ON the upper
branches. We give these particulars as furnished to us,
and presume them to be correct We have heard moth
ing additional from Clarks Ferry during the forenoon.
Since writing the above we learn that q number OF rats,
which broke from their moo.ings at various points along
the river above this place, passed down last night and
this morning, striking the piers OF the bridges here and
breaking in pieces.
LATER Before going to press this afternoon we re.
oeiyed Intelligence TO the effect that three more spans OF
the bridge were swept OFF this forenoon. The men above
alluded to are still on the standing spans, the spectators
OH shore fearing TO venture to their rescue owing to the
continued violence OF the storm, and the Tear that the
nans occupied by them would fall at any moment. The
exuectation Is that The entire remaining portion OF the
bridge will be swept away during the afternoon, unless
the wind ceases, and but little hope Is entertained for the
safety Of the unfortunate watermen.
The Pittsburg Evening Chronicle OF the 10th says ::
One of the severest gales felt here for some time swept
over the city Yesterday. In Allegheny il spent It's great
est force, and did a large amount of damage. The dwell
lnas attached to the Seminary buildings on Ridge street,
and occupied by Doctors Jacobs and Elliot, had their
gables blown down and were partially unrooicd. The
chimneys of the Seminary itself, and those of several
adjoining buildings, were also blown down, and then
roofs more or less damaged. The United Presby-
terrain Seminary, on the opposite side OF the Common,
and the residences of MessIs. Drain and Young, had part
of the Stating carried away, and their chimneys demol
IkItu. VII sttOhd vHtht stAApoi AcooS hSs nav '"t fS'NN
of the blast, and for a time the greatest apprehensions
were felt fol- the safety of the building. The glass was
swept from the windows, but beyond this received no Sc
rious damage.
The children were fearfully agitated, and the smoke,
flames, and SCOT issuing from the stoves gave rise to a
cry of fire in one Of the departments, which was echoed
by a hundred voices, and a scene of wild excitement sue
ceeied-sisters calling for brothers, brothers for sisters.
and all for refuge from their supposed peril, The time
was, indeed, trying, and it required all the hrmness,
self possession, and courage of teachers to quell in' part
the tumult, and prevent a frenzied and perhaps fatal rush
for the stairs. A few of those nearest the doors did man
age to reach the street, and sped home with awtully ex-
aggerated stories. 1t is n matter of graduation that this
episode of the tornado is not more startling. a ID.
Several hands employed in stripping the shingles from
the st. Clair street bridge narrowly escaped being blown
into the river. They saved themselves by getting hold
between the sbeeting boards and laying fiat upon the roof.
A gentleman residing in the first ward, who was engaged
upon a lumber boat at Hers island, was lifted off his
feet and landed in the river in water up to his waist. AT
this side of the river the damage done was trifting, and
limited to the demolition of a few chimneys and the
displacement Of a few hundred shingles from the Older
roofs up town. Il. # ##E".