South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-07

Thunder and HsoRs Ra'a-
a .Ssrsosts Storm.

~. ~ Ertf-N
SCyMprRLAxD. Mn, July 3.
About NE O'Clock yesterday after
noon one Of the Acrcest Mind storms ever
known here burst suddenly over our
city, and shortly afterward rain com.
menced falling heavily, and continued
with but few Interruptions until nine
O'Clock, when tie lleaNy Tall ceased,
though the rain continued until after
midnight. !, During the afternoon n con-
siderable quantity Of mutl was brought
into the streets, but little damage was
done. The most vivid and continuous
lightning ever seen here flashed Fer
hours and one bolt struck a large apple
tree in Sinclairsvillc, cutting it of about
six feet from the ground, and another
shivered y tree on the premises of Mr..
Robert Read. West Washington street.
The Wind gave everything movable u
lively shakirg-up, but we can hear of no
damage accustomed by it excepting tho
destruction of an awning ut the store Of
Mr.. j. Ro6enharser. Union street, and
the driving of one oil the iron rods com.
posing the frame through the window
destroying Eve or six dollars worth Of
glass, etc.
AT about eight O'Clock, after tAree or
four, lullsa in the storm, the rain com
menced falling in sheets and continued
for nearly half an hour, flooding the
streets and doing much damage. that
cannot ut this hour be estimated or even
ascertaincd. Many persons think that
a water-spout was formed on Reynolds
hill, as the water poured from the Bal
timore pike down Baltimore street. coy
,ering that thoroughtarc from curb to
curb to q depth of two or three feet.
flooding all the side streets, and depos.
iting tons OF mud and debris everywhere.
Strange to say nearly all the water came
down Baltimore street. the volume on
Frederick and North Centre streets not
being larger than is usual at The occur
renee Of every heavy rain.
AT about s 80 o'clock the sewer under
the Queen City Hotel became cloggcd
and - the sewer had already received
from the hill sides more water than il
could carry, it burstel in several places
Before the brick work gave way, how
ever, column Of water three or four
feet IN diameter shot UP from the man
hole i'll the rear yard OF the hotel TO =
height Of ten tect-;In an instant tuns Of
water flowed into the basement OF the lto-
tel * flooded it. Almost simultaneously
the sewer burst under the battery room OF
the telegraph office, almost filling the
room, tearing up the floor and destroy.
ing some OF tho batteries. At about
the same time the sewer burst under
the hotel store-room, but not before the
stores had been gotten safely out. BY
this time the water had reached n depth
OF about three aud q half feet nil over
the basement, carrying destruction be.
fore it. In the bar-room the three bill.
lard tables were hoa;cd or into corn
er, some liquors were destroyed and
much furniture damaged. In the laun.
dry and other departments everything
was soak ed aud covered with mud. The
damage done is very considerable,
though it canuot he estimated set. A
large force OF men was ut once put TO
work and ut an early hour this morn.
ing 4 great deal of tue mud had been
removed, the rooms washed ont with
large hose and the work Of repairing
begun.