National Republican., 1876-09-18
THE STORM.
Damage Done in and About the City.

A rain storm set in early Saturday night
and continued during the greater parS of yes
terday, beating down upon the city with un-
usual violence. When the rain ceased the
wind sprang up, and between the wind and
the rain considerable damage was done to
property. Houses were unroofed, sewers
flooded, cellars deluged, trees uprooted, shut
ters and signs carried away, telegraph lines
blown down, and the storm did as much dam
age as any storm could do without earning the
title of hurricane. About O'Clock last even
ing, when the wind veered to the northwest,
the greatest amount of damage was done.
The side wall of a brick house belonging to
James Tally, in course of erection on 4 street,
between Tenth and Eleventh streets north
west, was blown down.
A tin roof was blown from house on Mas
sschusetts avenue, near Tenth street new
house belonging to H. Clay Stewart, corner OF
L and Tenth streets, was stripped OF part OF
its iron cornice; chimney was swept from the
house of J. W. Given, Twelfth street, between
L and NJ: the awning in front of Ebel's store,
Ninth, between B street and Louisiana avenue,
was carried away; NJ street, between Ninth
and Tenth streets, was barricaded by big
tree, which was sprawled over the ground.
Trees were uprOoted and blown down on New
York avenue, between Tenth and Eleventh
EJT6Cls, COT0eT VI El6NeHJu duu 4 sGIOcbS,
Tenth and F; Tenth, between and F, and
three on Tenth street, between Pennsylvania
avenue and c street.
NAVY YARD.
Capitol Hill and the Navy Yard got the full
benefit of the storm yesterday. Several
houses were unroofed and trees blown down.
Within the navy yard proper the commandant
and officers Of the yard were on the lookout
all day, to see that the interests of the Govern
ment did not suffer. Everything was done to
secure the vessels and property. when the
tide was at its full height last night the water
was at least fifteen feet above the quay walls.
The water in the Eastern Branch was higher
than it has been since 1867. The western
ship house was surrounded, and the approach
to the wharf was cut off. A northeaster
blowing around the corner of the west ship
house caused the gun to which the bow-chain of
the Gettysburg was secured to start from its
foundation, but not to such an extent as to
endanger the moorings of the vessel.
At O'Clock Captain o. c. Badger, captain
of the yard, inspected the moorings of all the
ships, and as a precautionary measure ordered
that the starboard anchor of the Gettysburg
be let 90; in case of the bow chain parting,
this would prevent her drifting up the Eastern
branch CT colliding with the Relief, Fortune,
Triana, Wyoming or Saratoga, which are Sc
cured Just above her. The timber belonging
to the Bureau of Construction and Repair,
WHICH WAS was uOdleuOu tHG
and the plank footway leading to the Relief
was washed out of position, but everything
aloat will be secured this morning.
Above the navy-yard, near the Anacostia
bridge, the scows and boats of Mr.. George Fl.
Gaddis and H. Bailey broke loose and drifted
up the branch. Other minor accidents oc-
CURED but space will not permit an account of
them in detail.
In the western end of the city the wind had
a fine frolic among the trees, and many old
and fine ones were thrown to the ground.
The police and citizens took precautions to
FAVE some of the finest trees by securing them
with ropes. The damage TO trees was es-
pecially great along K street. The greatest
damage was done to
THE COLUMBIA HOSPITAL
building, at the intrsection of L and Twenty
fifth streets and Pennsylvania avenue. A
third story was in course of erection on the
east wing and all of the new work was blown
off, demolishing in its fall a new and ex-
pepsiVe portico in front of the wing. Much
damage was done by the water to articles
that had been left in that part of the building.
Fortunately that wing was not occupied and
no one was injured. The damage will amount
to over 81 900.
Among the river men great anxiety was felt
as to the effect of the storm upon the shipping.
After sundown they had good cause for fear,
the wind having changed so as to blow up the
liver, anu Iue rain anu Lne lucOIllL5 Llut
caused the water to rise extremely high, being
even with the ferry landing and overlooking
many of the other wharVes. The steamers
John W. Thompson, Mary Washington and
others were compelled to get up steam to be
prepared to protect themselves from injury by
being driven against the docks.
Great damage was done small boats by the
waves, breaking some, capsizing Others and
filling them with water. At last accounts the
water was still rising.
A number of trees were prostrated in the
vicinity of F street and Maryland avenue
southwest. In large number Of streets that
have been recently cut down, leaving high
banks on either side, the water washed the
earth down so as to cover the sidewalks with
soft mud and clay, rendering pedestrianism
at night both difficult and dangerous. The
wind blew down the two-story frame house on
street, between Third and Four and a. half
streets, owned by Mrs. Jane Henderson. Mrs.
Henderson and her four children escaped with
out injury, and took temporary shelter in the
neighborhood.
Officer Kearney, while passing the corner of
Four and-a-half street and Virginia avenue,
narrowly escaped being struck by falling bricks
from the chimney on the grocery store, which
were thrown down by the wind.