The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-05-27
From the Charleston Courier.
A THUNDER SQUALL.

A thunder storm, quite as sudden as
severe, burst over VI city on Saturday
afternoon last, inficting considerable
damage, though lasting less than twcn-
ty minutes. During that space Of time
the wind blew its hardest, tearing It's
way along our house tops, rending and
irving as it went, and making itself
terribly felt in our lrarbor. The me-
ralic routing of the NEW Custom House
was in grco; part roll'd up like q scroll
and torn away, aud the occasinnal frag-
mcuts of slate strewn alnig the pave
mcnts indicate very rude usage I" sun
dry private establishments. In some
parts Of the city tic storm Of rain, which
was very heavy for the time 1t lasted /,
was accompanied by hail.
The re>ilcnce at the Northeast cor
ncr of Wentworth and SmiIh-strcets
mad some of the fencing laid prostratc
By the fall of IL tree; the Alston House,
at the West end of Tradd street had IL
rorton of the fencing blown d"wo, aud
the broken limbs of trees could be seen
in many sections of the town.
But the most unfortunate occurrence
took place in the river where the wind
had unrestricted sweep, and no'wl'h-
standing the threatening appearance of
the weather for an hour previous, Sc
veral boats were caught unprepared for
danger and in one case Leading to an
unfortunate tragedy.
A l;r. Douglass and family, composed
of his wife and three children, t"@e'h"r
with two c"lorcd boat hamdS, lett the
wharf short time before The >quall in
very substantial and dcckeh boat
bound to Bulls Island, where Mr.. d .
had been engaged to act as assistant
keeper tn the light house. This boat
was struck by the blow below the city,
not far from Castle Pincknry. and being
unprcparrd for so heavy blast, she
soon fc ell on her broad side. and filled
with water; one of the c"l"rcd mcn for
tunatcIy succeeded in getting into Il
small boat, which was towing astern.
and rescued Mr.. Douglass and ono 'i
the children, a girl, the orher colored
hand also keeping himself aaaat until
taken up; but Mrs ponghlss and her
two sons, who were below deck when
the accident took place, were not seen
alter dil'igcnt search WIS made in the
vicinity by small boats. and n" trace "t
them had brcn found up to our last in
formation. This boat. in her sunkcn
condiriun, was t.kcn in t"w BY hcpll"'
boat WIN Cnt, Captain Jones and Ia
ken to shallow wafer, where she was an
chord on Saturday afternoon OF the
Battery. A water boat WAS ais" cap
sized off South Bay, but was afterwards
rot into place Of safety at this"lm )
Mill. Reports Of accidents to Other
buats were freely circulated. but We
could ascertain no serious DISASTER
Several fishing boats in the harbor were
ovcrtaken by the squall and cars'zrd
but the occupants were rescued by other
small BOATS.
The showcring of the rain, the roar
iug and Kissing noise Of the wind howl
cd around the huuse tnps, slammed
shutters, wrenchcd sign aud sgn.pnsts
from their f,stenings, and both wind
and ruin with great vchrmcnce imre
din. the horses aud annoying the dr'
vcrS of the street cars.
Mar the intersection Of Wentworth
and Smith. .slrcrts tho line of travel o
the Street Rrflway was "bSrrnc'cd by
the fall of u large aud venerable wild
mange tree. which Stoud on the preni
C, now occupied by Captain f: Lnn
nrau. This tree was found to yield tt
the pressure If wind aud laid its pros
trate form in 81 ght of those whose dc
light it has often been to view its MA