National Republican., 1874-07-06

state. 1t Is supposed tnaJ Lnose working the
crafts, seeing the approaching danger, possessed
sufficient judgmeDt to head their boats fol-
shore and get out Of harms way. Two small
boats capsized between this city and Alexan-
dria, but fortunately the inmates escaped with
only good wetting. Some of the boats have
not yet returned to the city, but no fears are
entertained of the safety Of those sailing
them.
IN THE NORTHWESTERN SECTION.
The storm eemed to sweep with especial
violence over that portion Of the city
living west Of Twelfth street and north Of
K. Entering the city as it did across the
heights of Kalorama it touched first at the
Olympic base ball grounds and transferred
its south line Of fence to the middle of the
street. Crossing the now vacant square of the
old National base ball ground It struck the
row of houses running between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets on s, and unroofed
twelve of them, including rafters and chin
neys. The first one west was owned and occu-
pied by Prof. Cannon, Of the architects Office
Of the Treasury; the second by Mr.. Psrkhurst;
the third by Mr.. Lawrence-this house was
almost q total wreck, as the roof from one of Il
similar row on the north side Of the street was
blown with great violence against its front, de-
molishing its windows and defacing its walls
The other houses were occupied by Messrs.
Winfield, Mcmillan, Foster, Taylor, Nadge,
Dascom, Blackman and Woodward.
In several instances the occupants Of the
houses received slight injuries, the most severe
being that sustained by Mrs. Mcmillan, who
was sitting beside the bed with babe but two
weeks old in her arms, when the chimneys
came down through the ceiling, smashing the
bedstead and striking her shoulder, badly
bruising 1t. In some Of these houses the
bricks Of the ehimneys crushed the upper
stories.
Of the row on the north side but two houses
were damaged, the most westerly one, occu-
pied by DR.. Herndon, and the adjoining one,
occupied by Mr.. Haupt, Of the War Depart
ment. On the south side, west of the row
above referred to, two-story house, owned by
| W. II. Henderson, was unroofed.
On T street, in the row of thirty houses re-
Gently built for Mrs. Schoolcraft, the five most
westerly were entirely unrOOfed including raft
ers and chimneys. -Four of these were occu-
pied, but no one was hurt.
On Q street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth,
two-story brick dwelling was robbed of its
roof, including the rafters. At the corner of
Fifteenth and Q streets row of six three-story
bricks, owned by DR.. Van Began, were entirely
unroofed.
On Corcoran street, between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, about dozen of the twenty
seven houses on the south front are wholly or
partially unroofed, while several of those on
the north front are entirely stripped of their
tin covering. None of these houses have the
rafters blown off, They are the property of
Messrs. Riggs and Plant. Four of the hand
some new Mansard roof houses on Corcoran
street, between Thirteenth ard Fourteenth
streets, have been stripped Of their tin cover
ing.
On Sampson street, between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, the houses are of frail build,
and were nearly all damaged badly Such as
had roofs, about eight in number, had them
TrpT TaFn nFrsnA ~ ha
large house of John F. Green, grocer, at the
corner Of Fourteenth and Sampson street, was
badly damaged, the upper wall being crushed.
Immediately opposite the brick stable of Marsh
& Main was torn off and carried across Four
teenth street.
At the corner Of Fourteenth and streets
the large stable of Patrick Brennaps was un-
rooted.
On Fourteenth street, between N and Rhode
Island avenue, the large brick residence of Mr..
Chapman, master brick mason, was unroofed,
rafters and all.
On Sixteenth street, near P, the new Man
sard roof, owned by Mrs. Page, of the Quar-
termaster Generals Office, had the roof badly
torn.
On o street, between Fifteenth and Six
teenth, the twO-stOry frame, owned by Mr..
Mertz, and the adjoining tWO-stOry brick were
unroofed.
On Vermont avenue, between n and o
streets, the modern pressed-brick and Mansard
roof of w. S. Roose and the two similar houses
adjoining had the roofs blown OF.
At the corner OF NJ and Twelfth streets, the
fine newly-built house of Judge Macarthur and
the one adjoining westwardly, owned and occu-
pied by Charley Smith, the builder, were un-
rooted.
In many instances the occupants of these
houses employed a large force of men and
placed temporary coverings of felt over them
to protect them against falling weather, which
was threatening during the afternoon of yes
terday.
Numerous trees, fences, flower gardens, &C.,
within the range of the storm were destroyed.
The ornamental shade trees in Franklin
square, at K and Fourteenth streets, were
badly damaged. Large limbs were streWn
across the adjoining streets, and in several
instances smaller trees within the inclosure
were entirely uprooted.
METROPOLITAN CHURCH.
The spire of the Metropolitan NJ. E. church,
at the corner orc and Four-and-a-half streets
northwest, was put to a severe test in with
standing the sweeping power Of the tornado.
Great care was taken in the erection Of this
steeple that the work should be done in the
most substantial manner, as its towering
height would expose it to all storms, and If
improperly constructed 1t might give way un-
u
low. Notwithstanding the heavy timbeTs used
and the strong bracing given to it, still the
immense strength of the gale has forced the
spire to q slant in a southeasterly direction of
about six inches. No danger is apprehended,
as the braces and stays are as firmly imhedded
and strongly secured as they were previous to
the storm.
JUDICIARY SQUARE.
In the grounds of the Judiciary square the
damage done was not very material and con-
fined almost exclusively TO the Western Union
Telegraph Company, whose four poles, sup
porting 2i wires. running about midway of the
square, were all blown down, grounding the
wires and annihilsting all communication with
the East and West. This caused an early sus-
pension of work in the Associated Press office,
and the Sunday papers received "good night"
at an earlier hour than was expected or they
accustomed to getting It. Employees of the
company were engaged yesterday in rightinC
the poles, so as to allow the transmission OF
messages as soon as possible, and the lines were
working again last night.
TIE STORM on COLLEGE HULL.
The unsuspecting Inhabitants Of College Hill
saw It coming, but their idea of the quantity
and quality lacked the requisite degree of
thickness, for they loitered about in their front
yards, grew more and more enthusiastic over
the game of croquet, strolled leisurely across
the broad eXpanse of commons, and were en- |
gagged more in thoughts of how to witness the |
coming pyrotechnic displays than Of the best |
and safest way to shield themselves from the !
oncoming terrific storm. The heavens looked |
angry, the clouds were dark and very low, and |
yet from their shifting and strange movements |
quite every one was led to believe that the force
and strength would pass around to the north |
east, thus affording the patriotic people, who |
had invested in large quantity Of fireworks, |
the pleasure of displaying the same In all the |
splendcr of Fourth of Juiy-dOm. But they |
were mistaken in this. So badly mistaken, in |
act, that It will require week for some Of
them to recover in. Those who were out on |
the commons and strolling carelessly along the |
walks started for home on a very animated J
double-quick at precisely forty-One minutes |
and five seconds past seven O'CLOCK. The storm |
started for them in just three seconds after |
wards, and overlook the majority before they |
could reach their first gates, and then there |
was a scene past picturing in print. |
1t was very sudden, everything passed from
quietude and mental tranquility to |
dust, flying timber, caVOrting chin |
neys, screams for help and mental agony, |
while the rush and roar Of the angry and de-
structive winds were deafening and frightful in
the extreme. One dense and binding cloud OF
dust swept over the brow of the hill, uprooting
trees, demolishing sheds, unroofng houses,
picking up heavy pieces of timber, tossing
about heaps Of rubbish, dashing large stones
4 ,fy,ef fha nd