The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-23

TINE GREAT AUGUsT RAIN STORM
t4ug tGe storms which have, by their
...y anpled extent or violence, created
chronological epochS from which people
.r the habit OF dating events, is what is
.ewu among our older Inhabitants as the
... August rain storm. 1t occurred on
right Of Thursday, August Is, 1876
.. u.tv years ago the 18th day OF August
-. For several weeks previously the
3 had been parched by an unprece-
"a drought. From the latter part OF
r. 10 the day and date Of the storm
+ re lad been no rain. The springs in
, nv places were dried up, and farmers
ere compelled tSdriye their cattle avery
il way 10 water them. The surface OF
. -arih was dry like the ashes around a
ocnic cptcr, and person could easily
ran down his had and arm through
Nsghrd surface of ground, as in an
ash heap. On the evening OF the
l1u Of August the heavens gathered
darkness, and there were evident
s...sol coming storm. There appeared
10 90 two clouds, which sent forth constant
....."S of lightning and peals Of thunder,
N." two opposing men-ot-war, or two hos
H.. batteries Of artillery. Ii began 10 rain
about 3 O'Clock, and rdined for about ten
lrus. such quantity of water fell as
WAS never before or since known TO fall in
the same time. The tloodgates of heaven
seemed 10 open. and the rain descended,
lu- I'M drops, but in a constant pouring
r.al or Sheet Of water. The roads were
quilted in places to the depth Of ten feet,
aud rendered impossible. Bridges and
r.rag were iloatcd oil and mills destroyed.
ia NiudicIown, Mr.. Samuel 5. Peckham,
WHO occupied the farm bordering on
~nohGest beach, lost Seventy-liye out OF
flock of one hundred and forty sheep,
which were grazing on the marsh of the
beach. These sheep were dr0wned-not
FROM any rise in the beach, for there was
ay higher tide than usual-but by the &C
c.malated rain-water that fell during the
GIT.
In this town the lightning struck in seve-
raj places, killing a COW and doing other
damage. Engine house No. 3, situated at
the foot Of Marlboro street, near the Cove,
was Aoated into the Cove, and quite a
number Of out-buildings were thrown
down. The streets of the town were so
rI.isd and destroyed that it cost several
,.ngsapd dollars TO repair them. AS to
The amout Of rain that fell, there are vari.
On. couicctures, ranging from fifteen to
u.rtv inches. 1t was thought that more
a fell that night than for whole year
pr.gious. One gentleman, who takes no
lie. Of these things, informs rs that iioul
barrel which he had standing ont II
tire open air on his premises, away IRON
al contact with anything, was rained fui
Of water during the night-this, besides
what ran out before the barrel became
Cn1. enough TO hold water, would seem 70
Justify the assertion Of those who clam
Tia. at least thirty inches Of rain Tell 10
those ten hours. In the western part OF
Tie State the damage was equally great,
Rods were ruined, bridges, dams, ana
mills we're hoated away, and the mail-car-
Tier, In coming this way, was forced 70
swim bis horse over streams across whose
BEDS LIE had previously passed dry-shod'
III idct, this storm was, in it's way, as re-
Harkablc Us that known as the September
gaze, but does not seem 10 have been so
o''en recalled 10 memory, and therefore
we thought il might not be uninteresting
70 give i a passing notice and recall Its
gay and date, as well as its wonderful
Cl4IaCter- hetrDOrt HercUrI