Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-08
Terrific Storm.

and most destructive wind storms ever known
hhere. 1t had been raining almost necessarily
for sixty hours, and at the time the storm
struck the town the rain was still falling in tor
rents. At an early hour in the evening light
ming began to play across the sky, and the
whole air seemed to be filled with electricity,
and all night long flashes and reports followed
each other in such rapid succession that there
was almost an unbrokeD glare of lightning and
roar of thunder. Al 1925 o'clock dense, black
cloud was seen 10 the Western horizon, and a
few minutes after sharp breeze came up from
the east, which continued not over minute
| when there was dead calm and rain ceased
entirely. Then began to be heard distant
roaring of the coming tornado. ln moment
| more the wind struck the city, and it seemed
| for time as if everything above ground was
doomed TO destruction. Just as the hurricane
struck the city came binding flash Of light
| niDg followed by crash of thunder that made
the earth tremble. This, with the terrific roar
| log of the wind, which caEu0t be llkcned to
anything but ITSELF the creakiOg and grooming
of the trembling buildings, the crash OF falling
walls and flying timbers, made an exhibition
of the fury of the elements which those who
The wind cloud was fuuuc shaped, with the
small end down. 1t moved with an oScillatory
motion from west to east, rebounding like u
bombshell, aud scattering ruin in It's pathway
wherever it struck the earth. The loss 10 the
city and county cannot be less that Sl3O,oOO,
and may reach a quarter OF a milllOu.
! The LeavenworIh carpet factory, with ma
chinery valued at $4,000 was totally destroy
ed. The roof Of the Oid Fellows Hail, one
of the largest buildings in the city, was torn
of and the interior of the structure ruined by
water. Some houses were crushed by falling
roofs Many houses, large and small, We're un-
rooted, and other damage done. The ilne OF
the tornado was directly through the heart OF
| the city, from west to cast.
On the AFTERNOON Of the same day the storm
reached Chicago, spending itself Hy on the
south and north sides. Among the casualties
reported are the following: The Michigan
! Southern Depot was unroocd and SIX aborcrs
working 10 the vicinity were more or less hurt,
one of them seriously The massive stccpe OF
| Grace Church, IFS feet high, fell, and crash
| ing through the roof, penetrated the aisle.
The choir we're practiclng 10 the church at the
| time, but were not injured. The splre Of the
Wabash Avenue Methodist Church also broke
| off and fell into lot adjoining. The upper
l
was carried away, and the chimney falling on
the lower portions caused much injury to the
building. The patients were speedily rrmov
ed, and none we're seriously hurt. The wind
took off large portion OF The roof Of . sborn's
harvesting machine mandatory, and sixty
feet Of the west wall fell in, smashing the ma
| chinery and irhicting other damage to the
amount OF S., 900. The omnibus barn, on Blue
Island avenue, near Twenty second street, was
blown down. A three story !ramc house at
the corner OF Pauline aud Twenty second streets
was blown down, and one boy killed. besides
several Of the tenants were Injured apd some
limbs we're broken The M lsslve log bell ut
the crib, together with the newly-erectcd tow
er, was swept into the lake and entirely dc
stroyed. Trees, lamp posts and other debris
strew the streets. To some portions OF the city
the sidewalks were turned over and jamurd
against houses, breaking glass, &c. Hacks
and carriages we're wrecked 10 the streets and
abandoned. Nearly fifty vehicles were seee on
the South Side atlerthe tornado passed, turned
over, and some of them worthless on account
of the damages by the storm. lnnumerable
chimueys toppled over, and signs were hurled
into the streets in all directions The Palmer
and Gardner Houses are badly damaged. Near
~ every vessel lying inside of the harbor and
in the river as we'll as those outside, lost sails
or masts or portions OF their rigging. The
| lightning struck several times, but 10 only one
case was man injured, and he only slightly.
| The storm lasted but few minutes.
To candy store GU Like street TOUR glrls
were seriously hurt, and TWO of them probably
fatally, by chimney falling through the rocf.
Six men we're buried under the falling walls OF
the Michigan Southern Freight Depot, one OF
whom will probably die, aud ano her had his
| legs and arms and other bones badly broken:
| Some may not recover.
| At Kansas City the damage was immense.
| None of the ten roads entering the city sent
| out trains on time. and no trains arrived cx-
cept 90 the Missouri Pacific, North Missouri
and Fort Scott roads. The Hannibal and St.
Joseph road is blocked near Carson, and pas
sepger trains held at Liberty There is seri-
Gus break 10 the Missouri Pacific, near Pome-
ROY, and also 10 The Council B utfs road near
Parkville. The Kansas Pacific is interrupted
| By washoslt at Stranger, and the Atchls1n,
| Topeka and Santa Fe near DcSota The entire
| railroad traffic has been delayed and interrupt.
ed and it will be several days before the usua
| order of things is restored. A serious land
slide occurred on Bluff street, by which the
railroad track was covered and all communlca-
ton between the Union depot and the railroad
bridge was cut off, which necesstated the trans
fer Of passengers by busses. The damage to
private property and streets is very great.
No serious damage to the wheat crop is re,
ported. =
A Commercial Neoga, ILL.,, special says the
| Illinois Central mail train bound south Was
struck by tornado two miles south of that
point Saturday night and the entire traiu ditch
ed. No person was killed, but several were Sc
verely injured W.. K. Ackerman, Treasurer OF
the road, had his shoulder dislucatcd and c,I-
iar-b bone broken. but cxerted himself to the ut
most attending to other sutfcrcrs. p. Doyle
Secretary of State of Wisconsin, was badly
hurt. but is out Of danger; brakc man Warner
skull fractured and internally injured. The.
tornado had terrible force, and swept every
thing in its path, which was very barrow. For
tuuately, other damage is slight.
The small grain crop prospect in Georgia is
cheering. A larger area is planted in wheat,
oats, rye and barley. There will be morc corn
and less cotton planted.