The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-28
THE STORM.
A Tornado sweeps over the City-Thunder and
Lightning, Rain and Hnli-Dnmage Done by


the warning Elements.
Yesterday dawned light and fair, the heavens were
rotted with but few scuddng clouds, Offering no
reSistsace 10 the brilliant rays Of the sum- who rose
In majesty and started on his diurnal course IN
glory. The Sabbath morn was quiet, and through
TO worship Multitudes Of the devout entced by the
beauty Of the day. and impeed also, 1t Is fair TO pre-
sume, by a sense OF religious duty, wended their
save for protection against Old Soils sweating heat
none carried umbrellas, for none apprehended a
storm. Ere service was over, however, the sky low
cred ia darkness, heavy masses Of sombre-hued
clouds gathered in density, the hid his face the
winds were let loose, and the suspended waters,
startled from their pendant fullness by the thunder
came down in torrents. Blank were the faces in the
pews sought were the awnings in the streets. This
was but a shower nevertheless, a precursor OF the
deluge which to follow later In the day. IL lasted
q brief while, kindly Withholding its wrath at noon,
and permitting those who had gone to church rely
ing on promise OF quiet weather, Afforded by the
smiling face Of the sky in the morning. TO return
unwetted. But now came the more serious time.
While the worshippers were felictating themselves
on their escape, what were the elements doing
The storm-clouds were again mastering, and In
thicker columns; the lghtnings were playing; the
thunder rattling; and the wind tossing During the
afternoon and early evening some three or Tour
storms of the rudest kind-wind, rain, nail, and
thunder-drenched, frightened, and damaged the
city. The most disastrous occurred between and
G O'Clock in the afternoon.
The rain was preceded by the wind, which did its
work efectualy, unroolng and demolishing build
ngs, uprOotnB trees and destroying growing crops;
then the hail and lightning followed completing the
In the lower part OF the city, particularly in the
First, Twenty-sxth, and TSenty-seventh wards, the
wind blew perfect hurricane and the hail covered
the ground to depth of half an inch.
The storm appeared to spend its fury Try, about the
neghbOrhood of Front and Fifth and Milfn streets.
In that locality the greater damage was done.
The widest excitement relgned among the people
of that section of our city, The most exaggerated
rumors OF destruction to life and property were
started, and secured credence. Fortunately, when
the sum of the damage could be obtained 1t was
found that the storm had been more kindly than was
supposed. So far known no human lives were
lost but property was damaged to the extent OF
Scores Of chimneys were either thrown down or
partly wrecked. Telegraph poles were proJtrated,
and the wires twisted and broken. Hundreds OF fruit
and shade trees were uprooted and rendered worth
less Limbs were broken off OF other trees, shrub
berry was ruined flowers were scattered and torn up,
and scene of devastation was visible Wherever the
whirlwind held sway.
Great damage was done to the crops of cereals
and vegetables in what is known as the Neck and
portions of the Twenty ward. Many fields
of grain look as If rollers had passed over them.
Miles Of fences have been demolished and numbers
of fowls killed.
The direction OF the main storm was southeastery.
1t ragged for more than half an hour.
Among the properties destroyed and injured were
the fOllowing:-The lower depot OF the Fifth and
frame structure on lot just north Of Moore street,
and extending through from Fifth to Sixth streets,
was struck by the wind and dashed to pieces,
scarcely a timber being left upright. Many
pieces Of the splintered boards were carried over
square distant by the gale. About the time the wind
struck the building O terrible clap OF thunder oc-
CURED, and, from tae appearance Oh some OF tle
fragments Of the destroyed depot It Is believed that
III,
mental in the work of destruction.
The roofs of two brick houses on the south side OF
Minn street above Front were lifted into the air
siderable distance, alighting on an open lot.
The roofs of two small houses in what is known as
the Ten-Gun Battery" in the same locality shared
similar fate, as did also the roof of the Greenwich
NJ E. Church; the roofs of two houses and Fifth
street, above Minlin, the roofs Of Nos.
246 and 24s Siegel street, the roof Of a
building at Fifth and McCain streets the roofs of
w a SharD'S foundry Second
streets the roof of shed at the coal yard, Second
and Tasker steets, and another at front ana Green
wch streets, and numerous other roofs in that
The bone factory of Tasker & Clark, on otsego
street. below Mitln, and the fencing around North,
| Chase n Norths factory were blown down.
In addition to those mentioned, portions Of the
roofs OF some fifteen or twenty other houses in the
same vicinity were more or less damaged. by the
storm
were unroofed. They three-story brick houses,
and were covered with shingles. The roofs We're
taken Off at the time, and carried two or three
hundred yards. The dwellings were occupied by
John Powell, William BrItton, William Smith, and
Isaac Beckett.
A short distance south of the destroyed depot two
new brick dwelling houses, on HOFFMAN street, west
Of Fifth which We're ready to receive the oists Of
| the second floor, were demolished.
At Fifth and Mexican street, half square further
south, the roof was lifted bodily from the dwelling
of Mr.. Jacob Myers, and carried about hundred
yards, falling into truck garden on the opposite
side of the street. The roof was composed of inch
boards covered with tin, and the whole was carried
of together Much rain falling afterwards, Mr..
Myers household effects suffered, and the interior OF
the building is damaged.
| The bone factory Of Messrs Tasker 4 Clark, be-
fore mentioned is large building in four sections,
and the roof of each section was carried away ard
fell several hundred yards distant some OF the panks
penetrating the earth to the depth OF four or five
| feet. The roof was gravel one, and the board
sheathing was lifted up with the feting and the
| gravel.
| brick school-house on Greenwich street. below
| Moyamensing avenue, was partially unroofed.
The scene of destruction was visited after the
storm had abated, by a large number OF persons
The storm likewise ragged with great severity in
| the vicinity OF HaddingtOn. The summer residence
| of Robert G. Mercer, Esq., at SiXty-fifth and Vine
streets, was damaged portion OF the portco was
| blown down, and number OF fruit trees levelled
| with the ground
A WOMAN BEATEN.-Adam Menock was charged
| before Alderman Carpenter this morning with as
saut and battery Eliza Polltt, at No. 2l1 South
| Front street. 1t seems that Adam went into this
place, and, after asking for her, struck her and
| Knocked three teeth out Of her mouth. He was
| bound over for trial.
Rener Ettenneld was also held by Alderman Car
penter for assault and battery on g. III. Satherbun,
| at the house of BENJAMIN Smith, at No. 531 South
Front street Both are boarders, and EtteHfeld was
| drunk and got into Satherblun's room and cut him
| over the arm with knife.
A WHOLESALE AssAULTER-Jesse Mitchell (col-
ored) arrested yesterday for assault and battery
} on Samuel Palmer, on St. Mary street, near Sixth.
| The difficulty occurred some days since, when he
| struck Palmer on the head with a brick Palmer Is
at the Hospital, and not expected to live. He is
also charged with cutting at the same time, Matilda
| OBrien in the cheek, and a boy named Robinson
| with a knife. Alderman Carpenter committed
Mitchell to await the result OF Palmer's injuries.
| ASSAULT WITH A BUNG-DRIvER.-Christian Eberle is
the proprietor Of lager beer saloon at No. 269 South
Second street. He and his wife have been bound