Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-03-06
From Dispatches to Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Gale at Washington.

A violent Northwest wind visited Wash
ington and vicinity this morning. Such
flags as were not speedily drawn in were
very soon whipped into ribons, and it was
deemed best not to hoist the flags on the
Senate aud House of Representatives upon
the assembling of these bodies. The sky
lights of the Congressional Library were
demolished, and the railing of roofs over
the Senate and House rendered the trans
action of business difficult and caused NO
little alarm. Several houses were blown
down south of the Capital, and number
of roofs torn off in various parts of the city.
Trenity Church, on third and c streets
was damaged to some extent by the up
setting of one or two wooded pinnacles on
the towers, and the throwing down of one
of the small brown stone blocks from the
front, and portion of the roof was also
broken.
The water in the Potomac was lashed
into perfect foam, the waves dashing fa-
riously over the Long Bridge and the
wharves. At the wharf of the Lunatlc
Asylum, against which lbe wind had q
long sweep, the water frequently dashed
TO the hight of thirty feet, completely SUBJ
merging the fingers. A schooner, which
had anchored off the Arsenal, dragged six
anchors and drifted ashore, and considera-
bic damage was done to other vessels lying
at the wharyes. The steamers were com
PEELED to cease ruuing, and a freight train
coming up from Alexandria could with
difficulty make its way against the gale.
About noon it was noticed that the lofty
steeple on the Thirteenth street Baptist
C Church (where the Rev. DR.. Sampson has
been officiating) was swaying fearfully.
1t finally was blown down, and the mas
sive bell entirely crushed the roof and side
walls, leaving the front and east walls
standing. The fine organ of the church is
presumed to be uninjured from the appear
ance of the walls where it stands but of
this there is no certainty, as no one has
ven tured among the ruins to see. The
steeple was 161 feet high from the roof.
The damages are estimated at not less
than $4,000.
The north wall in its fall crushed the
back building of the fine dwelling on that
side, belonging to Mr.. S. Mast, and occu-
pied by the family of Mr.. Smart.
~ In the northern part of the city the dam
age to property has been considerable.
Some of the heaviest sufferers were the
dealers in small wares along the streets,
for they could lily afford to lose their stock
in trade. Oranges, apples, peanuts, ginger
schnapps and rickety tables went hob mob
bing promiscuously, while their propretors
vainly strove to "come TO" before the i'm
petuous current of Boreas.
Tin signs occupied conspicuous posi-
lion in mid air, reminding one of kiteiying
time.
Toward one o'clock the gale abated, and
the wrecked material began to be collected.
In one place lay buggy on its broadside,
in another, wagon laden with several
Lales of hay, in n similar position. On top
of tree fluttered a portion of somebody's
awning, with the words "Clothing Reno
waited and" Everybody present agreed
that no further renovating was needed for
the present.
Across the river, in the vicinity of the
camps, the scene was perfectly ludicrous.
Tents were carried away bodily, leaving a
few bare poles and boards as relics of more
quiet times. The stoves which many had
fixed up so neatly, were tipped over and
rolled along the ground with Gathering
sound, som Of them being destroyed by
their rapid Iocomotion.