The national Republican., 1867-07-03
LOCAL DEPART M EN- r.


A esterday morning at an
= early hour, one Of the most destructive torna.
does passed over this city ever known to have
occurred. There was but little admonition Of its
coming; rising quickly, II travelled with unpsr.
allslsd fury and completed Its work In most
summary mannsr-short, sharp, and decisive.
!, The previous day had been scorehingly hot, and
night was ushsrsd In warm and with but little
air stirring Toward tho mid Of night, the skies
assumed hssy hue, the stars grew dim and the
= atmosphere more oppressive. There were no
eindieations At midnight By the barometer In
Thompson's Drug Store, corner Of New York
avenue and Fifteenth streets, Of any material
change 10 the weather; nor did " "Aneroids' be.
longing to different gentlemen throughout the
city forstsll at that hour the approach Of any
storm--one " "Ansroid' that We have learned Of
about .. M, fell 2.l0ths. and the gentleman In
whose possession IL was, secured his house from
the danger Of any storm which might suddenly
arise. The lightning had been distinctly play.
ing In the Heavens long before midnight, and
with ths ushshng In Of . new day, 1t increased
In power and rapidity. The flashes were more
frequent and vivid and the muttsring thunder
indicated to those who heard 1.-THE slsepless
invalid, the wsyfarsr, the policeman on his beat
and the restlsrs slumbersr, that shower Of rain
at least was most surely ooming-none dreamed
Of the sudden blast which at three o'clock burst
upon Us. A fearful fash Of lightning accom-.
panied BY . heavy clap Of thunder, wore the
pioneers Of the storm. and with Its advent, mat
tss and things In and around the city changed
eonsidsrably. Houses were blown down, trees
Sprootsd, roofs carried away, shutters torn Of,
7fnd the sudden appearance Of night caps at the
windows TO close the latter were many and vari-
Gus. The storm lasted nearly IN hour, though
the rain which set In In its heighth continued
TIL soms time after the break Of day. An i'm
msnss amount Of damage has besn done in our
rntdst, and hava m douht that the dsstru,.
ton TO wheat crops lying In the track Of tho
storm has been great. Fortunately no loss Of
Slifs has attended the destruction Of property,
spd which fact we plsasursbly and gratefully
rsoord. There has, however, been much damage
done to buildings; some being completely blown
down, othsn unroofed and walls carried away
N one crumbling mass
Four brick houses on the corner Of Eleventh
and N strssts. north, had their roofs blown OF
One house on Fourteenth street, on the east side
below K, was blown completely down. One
.houss on Thirteenth and L streets, north, had
tho roof taken Of. One house on Eleventh
street, between K and L, north, had the roof
carried away The house ON Thirtesnth street,
No. sos, owned and occupied BY Mr.. olaEtoD,
clerk In Second Comptroller's ofice, had the roof
taken OF, and II was carried some distance south.
The rear wall also fell doing great damage to his
furniture.
=, The roof Of the three story brick house occu.
v
Eighth and o streets, was carried od intact and
8 went down through the new building being srec.
ted By Mr.. J. W. Simms, Wood and Coal dealer,
and sx-souncilman, which was adjoining. II
a. brought up upon tho second floor. The inmates
Of Mr. Mslhorn's house though not hurt were
much frightened.
The north roof In the west end Of the Smith
soliau Institute was torn out and alarge portion
Of Il carried Of. Four.and.a-hslf street suf
- fsrsd by damage to trees, q number Of which
n we're uprootsd. A large tree In front Of Judge
Lssoh's Law Office on Seventh street, We OBJ
served also spread out, giving indisputsble evi
dsnos Of tho power Of the tornado.
uian Institute grounds were also blown down, n
also through tho entire city shrubbery Of al
kinds suffered. The steamer HI Livingston
parted her moorings at the wharf and was blown
over on the fats, opposite the foot OF Sixth
street. She got of In the morning. however,
and started on her usual trip down the river
The schooner VIM. l.. Dayton. lying to anchol
below the Long Bridge dragged her anchors,
but brought up of Seventh street wharf ant
managed to hold on.
The telegraph wires In tho city were more OF
less injured many being cut through by saving
over each other, and there were but few Of them
yesterday morning that were in working order
The west wall Of the Congregational church,
corner Of Tenth and @ Streets was blown down
The damsgs may have been caused by stroke
, Of lightning. Three thousand dollars will prob
ably cover tho destruction caused A new build
;, ing belonging to Mr.. Tilley, on &, near Twenty
"a Third street, west, was blown over There were
sgsd. and lamp posts without number have sui
fsrsd.
Tho path Of the storm was from the W. N. W
TO the Il. 8. = though We think II hauled more
to the southwark, and very probably We will hea
-. In day or so of devastation through Maryland
It's greatest belt was not over eight miles, as II
Hss only partially felt in Alexandria. and not t
ihs extent that It was Ia this city. It's ooncen
trat!ou was its intensity--its velocity the reful
of its narrow confines. We trust that we may
. not hear Of any destruction to crops causeS
i, through Maryiandi but the murky aspect of th'
sky, the vivid lightning and the leaden arehe
hanging to the heavy clouds away In the south
ern horizon after the storm had passed from US
indicated, we fear, that the tornado was ye
sweeping on, its last blast not yet expended, bu
realistically moving onward, In Its course, spread
ing disaster and ruin.
r SOLDIERS AND SAILORS UNIoS. - Tn,
Union met at their hall, on Ninth street, on Mon
day evening" Major Morse, president, and VIM
Young. secretary.
I The Union appointed the following standin
Executive Committee-Major Morse, Loutsn
ant Young Major Hall, Captain Smith, and Majo
Wells.
" Committee on embsrship-Messrs, Rowe
Lille, and Merrill.
II Finance Committee--MeSsrs. Rowell, johnson
and Otis
COMMITTEES on Rmploymsnt-MessrsW Wilkir
son, Conrad, Wil'on, Ilondley and Green.
Relief Coulmittee-Messrs. Callan, Manning
Rowsli, Hsndlsy, and Hunt
/ Board of Relef-Msjor Hall, Major Welll
Captain Brock, Mr.. Wilson, and Captain Smith
COMMITTEES on Rooms-Cnptain Slater, Messri
Rothery and Lynch.
Committee on Statistics - MessrA Callar
Short, Young, Otis, and Wells.
Tho following resolutions were adopted;
Rssoiped, That Congress be, and are hereby
pstitioned to pass q Just and equitable bount
law.
Rssolped, That this Union petition cOngre
70 Investigate the causes why soldiers are NJ
allowed the preference in the matter Of nppoin
ments to once In the various departments und'
tho Government, in accordance with the resoll
tion Of the Thirty. Eighth Congress, aud the sui
ssqusnt proclamation Of the President OF u
United Slater.
- After further business the Union adjourns
4 RECKLESS ACT.-On Monday evenin
como Qua Ared bunch Of fre-crackers among Il
hacks on Sixth street, In front Of the Nation