Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-05-17
TERRIFIC STORM.
a Crash of Hailstones as Large as Hens
Eggs-A General Smash of Hot houses
and Windows.


a Crash of Hailstones as Large as Hens
Eggs-A General Smash of Hot houses
and Windows
At halfpast o'clock the drops commenced
to fall This shower did not last five minutes
before the hail succeeded. Fine at first, the
haistones came down larger with every mo-
ment, and within a quarter OF an hour OF the
storm commencement they fell with terrific
force, and so thickly that the atmosphere pre-
sented an ashen hue. 1t was as though CAMS
ter and grape-shot were being fired from the
battements Of heaven; indeed, had the hail
been of lead and iron it could not have pro-
duced a more deafening clatter upon the roofs
of the houses and the stone pavements
A TERRIFIC FUsILLADE.
/ For twenty minutes this terrific fusillade con-
tinued, the hailstones during the greater part
| of it varying from the size of peachstone to
hens egg. They tore through the shrub
cry, breaking off branches, covering the
ground with leaves and buds. They crashed
| through the windows, no glass apparently. be-
| ing too thick to resist them. From the roofs
| of houses they sc1aped both shingles and grav-
| ell awnings were as thoroughly ventilated as
though buckshot had been fired through them.
In a twinkling the streets were cleared of all
| pedestrians, who made for the friendly shelter
wherever they could find it.
| DISASTER TO THE LIGHTHOUSES.
The buildings and the people suffering the
greatest damage were lighthouses and their
owners. Not one of these escaped, being as
thoroughly rddled as though some malcontent
| had fired buckshot at them through an old
| fashioned Spanish scattering blunderbus. The
plants were all cut to pieces, and thus both
property and profits were swept cut of exis
I tence Algiers' lighthouses, at Broad Street
and Passyunk road, suffered to the extent oil
| four thousand panes of smashed glass. Prop
| erty Of similar character belonging to the es-
tate of the late MIR. Bisset, located at Fourth
and Tasker streets, suffered as greatly. Nc
Kensie extensive greenhouse at Broad streei
and Columbia avenue lost almost every light oil
glass it contained. 1t is impossible to particu
larize the damage done to properties of this
character. Between the broken glass and the
icy canister the plants. for the year at least
have been incurably afflicted. - d5aig.ids U.s.
DESTRUCTION TO THE CHURCHES.
The churches, with their large, unguardec
which the storm vented its spleen. The South
Presbyterian Church lost three hundred anG
fifty panes of glass. The First Reformed
church vas ridaled. St. Teresss Catholic
church came out in no better condition, while
the windows of the school house adjoining i
were knocked to ''smithereens. The large
and exceeding beautiful stained window oye
the pulpit of the new Beth Eden Baptis
church was broken.
s RATTLE AND CRASH OF GLASS.
Horticultural Hall, the Natatorium, Episco
pal Academy. Spring Garden Institute, High
School, Baldwin's Locomotive Works, Bling
the Cathedral. and hundreds of other build
ings we have not space to mention, we're venti
lated with rapidity startling In its effects.
There was rafting and crash of glass on al
sides, so that the deafening noise was medic!
of falling gravel, crashing windows, and expio
| ding hail-stones.
| SPRUCE STREET WORsTED.
Spruce street from Seventh to beyond Broat
street was favorite of the storm king. Not
house upon the south side escaped Here th'
storm was terrific, and one may better judge O
its nature when we announce that one hour at
ter its conclusion the accumulation OF hail upol
the street and pavement in this thoroughtare
| between Tenth and Eleventh streets was ito
| inclesi Upon this street the cars were stop
ped and the horses led under awnings, while
the passengers huddled together to escape th'
pieces of glass which were scattered abou
them
THE STAMPEDE ON BROAD STREET
There were many persons injured. Ih
could not be otherwise where so many wer
caught so suddenly and received the full fore
of the storm. The stampede on Broad stree
was marvellous to behold. People rushed t.
places of shelter, and crowded, like so man.
frightened cattle, in doorways and under avn
ings. Fashionable women, regardless of tn
time or place, threw the skirts of their dresss
over their heads, and made frst-class time ii
getting to a safe spot. Horses were frightene.
by the terrific crash, and went at break necl
speed. Others, terrified by the noise, refuses
to move, and received the full violence of tn
storm At Broad street and Girard avenue
carriage, drawn at frightened rate by pal
of frightened horses, was overturned, and 1t
occupants were sprawled out upon the hchol
son. Their injuries were mainly abraslons o
the skin.
SCENE OF TERROR.
4 funeral procession under the supervisor
Of Simon Garland was at Seventeenth an,
Spruce when the storm began. The horses al
ran away, and scene of the widest confusion
and terror ensued Mr. Garland sprang from
his carriage, and running to the hearse, sue
ceeded in stopping the horses and getting tn
coffin out uniDjured, but the hearse was broker
to pieces. Many of the carriages were broker
and overturned, and several Of the occupant
severely injured Four of the drivers wer
hurt. one of them, Patrick Dngan, fatally. :
After the storm subsidized the funeral proceeds
to the cemetery.-Philadelphia Age.