The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-27
A WAR OF THE ELEMENTS.
FREAKS OF TIE STORM KING IN
THE STREETS OF CHARLESTON


FREAKS OF THE STORM KING IN
THE STREETS OF CHARLESTON
Severe and Destructive Storm OF Wind
and Rain-Roofs Blown On, Trees Up
rooted, and Chimneys and Houses De-
molished-Sullivan's Island Swept by
the Storm.
Last Saturday, the city was again visited
with fierce storm of wind and rain, which
left In its track many serious evidences OF its
fury. The morning was bright and clear,
little haxiness of the atmosphere only inter-
ceptine the rays of the sun, but there was
noticeable degree of sultriness In the air,
which portended coming storm. Soon alter
noon low bank of clouds, just above the
western horizon, began to rise and to In
crease in volume and density. At the same
time the wind, which, during the morning, had
been blowing Sight breeze from the west,
gradually acquired strength until at about two
o'clock 1t rose to gale, and with the clouds
piled thick and black In the western hall OF the
heavens, the storm burst in all Its fury on the
city. The scene contained, as we'll as Its ele-
ments of discomfort and danger, something
OF grandeur. The black masses OF clouds
seemed to whirl down from dizzy heights, and
as they converged lurld flashes of lightning
darted from one to the other, or sprang with
tongues of forked flame down to their COM
mon enemy the earth, while the vaulted sky
rang with the roar of this battle Of heavens
artillery. The rain lell ftfully and spitefully
In gusts and showers rather than 10 steady
streams, but tho wind made up In violence
for any lack of fury In the fall Of rain. The
wind was mainly from the west, and sweep.
Ing through the crowded streets whirled great
clouds Of dust high in the air, darkening the
face of the earth and binding the few unlor-
tunates who could not get to shelter. The horses
seemed exposed to the greatest discomfort,
and they planted their feet firmly and wide
apart, put their beads down doggedly to es-
cape the storm, and shook with fear or anger
In the meantime, shutters we're banging wild.
" to and fro, signs swung around and some
times fell from their fastenings, awnings were
ripped up like paper, trees writhed and twist
ed as If In agony, and now and then great
branches would snap off like pipe-stems but
with a noise ike musketry, and wnirl Gown to
the deserted streets. Nor was the damage by
the storm confined to these comparatively
valuelsss objects. in several parts OF the City,
as win be found recorded below, houses were
unrooled, windows shattered and chimneys
demolished, and on Sullivan's Island, where
> the storm seemed to sweep with especial fury,
great damage was done to property and serious
injuries inflicted upon several persons: The
shipplnc In the harbor escaped with little or
no damage. One achooner was blown from
her mooring at Adgers wharf, but with no
serious results, and no other accidents have
been reported. 1t Is probable that the threat
ening aspect of the clouds gave sufficient
warning to the small craft with which the
harbor is generally filed, and these were not
backward In getting into positions OF safety.
At night the storm WAS renewed. and In Lnis
time there was more rain tnan Wlna. 1ne
wind continued to whistle mourItully round
the corners, and to rattle the easements
viclously, but It's fury was spent, and but little
further damage was done; but the rain swept
down In sheets and torrents, and the thunder
prowled and rumblea In way particularly
uncomfortable to weak nerves, and seemed TO
triumph over the demolition that had oeen
accomplished in the afternoon.
-. INCIDENTS OF THE STORM.
At five minutes to two o'clock, three
story wooden residence on the east Side OF
King street, near Line, the lowest fioor OF
which is occupied by Mr.. A. NJ. Cohen as a
drug store, was struck BY lightning and con-
siderably damt geo. The bolt struck the east
end of the house, and after tearing Oh tnat
part Of the roof and completely demolishing
a dormer window, passed down the chimney
to the second floor where 1t tore up some
bricks and then passed out without more
dafhage. The upper stories Of the house are
occupied by Mr.. J. Blschoh, and number OF
small children were at play In the east room,
but strange to say not one Of them was hurt
in the slightest. Mr.. Cohen, who was at
work In his store, was stunned for moment
and several:of his cases, drug vIals, DO, were
upset, but no damage was done. ...-,y.
The frames of two large buildings which
hae just been erected by the carpenters IN the
western portion of the burnt district, one on
New and the othe- on Council street, were
blown down and entirely ruined. =. :.
A wH1RLwND IN wEATwoRTH STREET.
On Wentworth, one of the best shaded
streets of the city, the devastation among IN the
fine trees along the sldewalks was sad to Ae-
hold. As the tempest struck the city the west
end of the street was filled with thick dust,
which was borne high up above the houses 10
vast clouds, and heralded the approaching
storm. Il rushed down quickly and through
these clouds could be seen the branches OF
trees, limbs, shingles, states, &C., whirled 10
every direction by the force OF the wind.
The trees .swayed and groaned and the
sharp cracking of the large branches
could be heard at Intervals followed
by the crash upon the pavement. rhe
houses shook and many rocked to and fro
with an unsteady motion suggestive of earth
make and divers terrible things. A car was
caught in the storm while passing through the
street, and the flying missiles and falling
branches fell continuously upon the team as
they struggled through the dense clouds. The
falling of the trees, &C., frightened the animals
and threatened destruction to the car and