National Republican., 1876-02-03
YESTERDAYS BIG BONANZA BLOW
IMMENSE DAMAGE 10 DISTRICT PROPERTY
how HOUSES WERE IMMEDIATELY UNROufEB
WIDOWS CHIMES IN IMMINENT DANGER
SCARED CITIZENS INEARNEST PRAYER
The Storm Throughout the Country

tnen 10 Ut aL lnaL 1OuE were NOT only
surprised at its fury, but apprehended thai
serious consequences would ensue before it:
strength was spent and anxiously watched for the
results Of its wonderful display of power as II
rushed along, unconquered and unchecked. To
those who had retired for the night and were
already deep in sleep the sudden and rude awak
ening was surrounded by alarming prospects
which foTetold to the aroused slumberers that
disaster, if not death, was close upon them
Houses rocked to and fro,propelIed by the stresth
OF the maddened element, and gave indications
that they would topple from their foundations
into the streets. Roofs were stripped off with the
rapidlty and cleanliness of husks from an ear oil
corn, and the upper chambers of dwellings left
naked OF covering except the canopy ofHeaven
while the strong, cold blasts penetrated eyery
corner OF the rooms and only too quickly disclosed
their chilly and unwelcome presence to those IN.
fortunate in being inmates. These did not tarry
long, but quickly taking in the unpleasant state
Of affairs, after getting their eyes fairly open to
the situation, collected little clothing and pro.
ceeded in search Of more comfortable quarters
while az the same time their fears were greatly
excited that the worst Of the storm was still to
While families collected in their parlors and
the lower rooms Of their houses waiting with
trembling limbs and prayers for safe deliverence
on their lips for the end to arrive, the wind Gen.
ttnued bowling about them, and IN its passion
lifted up and hurled gravel against the windows
and doors, as II to add to the fright that It had
already created. For fully an hour this torture
was endured, then the fury Of the storm appeared
to be spent, and the citizens that had Shelter
above their heads return ed to their beds to sIeep
II possible, or at least await the DEVELOPMENTS
that de light would reveal. Those who had no
roofs above them found charitable friends to ex-
and detailed account of all accidents caused by
the storm, and IL is a satisfaction to know that
not personal injury is reported.
DAMAGES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
The house of VIM. Il. Slater, 1927 Eleventh
street, was unroofed. On the east side OF Riggs
street, between Seventeenth and Eighteenth the
roofs and cornices of four houses were blown off
A house on z street, one on COrcoran street and
one on Sixteenth street were also uncovered
Half Of the Olympic baseball ground feucs Dor.
dering on Sixteenth street was blown down The
roof Of Lyceum hall, I, between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets. was blown off. Mrs. Redin's
house, corner Of North Capitol and G streets: the
stable and buildings connected with tho lumber.
yard on North Capitol street, between L and F
were completely uDroOt-d; three houses on Sec.
Ond, between + and F streets. were uncovered.
three new brick buildings on street. between
New Jersey avenue and North Capitol street in
course OF construction by Moses Kelly were Law
eled to the ground; row of brick houses on the
west side OF Fourteenth, between and W streets
northwest, had the corDice and sheathiug torn off:
st. Cloud hotel had the tin and iron roof and
sheathing damaged considerably: Foundry church
roof was considerably damaged and portion
thrown to the ground.
MAJOR vANDERBrRG's STABLE.
The roof Of Major Vandcrburs's stable. on E.
between Nineteen and Twentieth streets was
blown o1; also, the ro0i Of Nathan Imley's dwell
Ing, on ], between Twenty.thIrd and Twenty
fourth streets northwest: also, the roofs of yo
Lew brick houses on Nineteenth, between L and
NJ streets northwest, owned by Thomas Kenny ;
also, the Toois Of two new brick dwellings, on
TWenty-sixth and n streets northwest, and a tin
roof at No. 1911 l street. Chimneys wero blown
down at Nos. 1907 and lsl3 Pennsylvania avenue
Tin roofs Of Nos ll2O and 1l22 Nineteenth street.
No. 2Olg L street northwest, and the houses cor
nsr TweIly-iOurth and NJ streets were blown off
a rev OF houses en- Rhode Island avenue. be-
tween Seventh end Eighth streets northwest,
were uprocfed. The house of John Pepper Sey.
enth street, between II and n, was unroo[ed and
aehimney nearly carried away. a row of brick
houses on the west side of Fourteenth street, be-
tween and " streets northwest, had the cornce
and sheatsing torn off.
THE DISTRICT TELEGRAPH.
Tho building at the corner of Tenth and +
streets, occupied by the American District Tele.
graph Company, was unroofed. Two houses on
Second street, between and streets and a
house on the south side of q, between Third and
Four.srd-balf. Mrs. L. Crossield' S rear windows
No. 1909 street, were blown out and her alley
fence was laid low. The large plate glass win
dow Of the store of StIassDurger Brothers, on
Seventh street, near l, was broken in by the gale
eptailing loss Of 500.
The root Of the residence of Mr. John w. Bar-
ker, at Fourteenth and streets northwest, was
elevated and carried some distance from the
free circulation Of air, which was rather powerful
for the inmates. Mr. Barker was in search OF
moro comfortable quarters yesterday. He don [
enjoy being blown from home.
Three other houses in the same row with that
Of Mr. BarEer's were also unrOofed,
About o'clock the tin roof and chimney of the
new hve.story building on ID street, between
Twelfth and Thirteenth. adjoining No. ; engine.
house, were blown down, and fell with loud
crash on the roof of the engine bousc The roof
was damaged Slightly by tho falling bricks, and
q crack was started in the company's bunk room.
As the unoccupied building was left by the wind
in buiged condition and further danger to the
p,h " -
president OF the Board CT Fire commissioners in
view Of the dangerous condition OF the premises,
gave orders 10 move their apparatus and head
quarters temporarily 10 the tEUck.LoUse On Mas
saclCsetts avenue.
TIE METRO p JLITAN CHCTCH sPIPE.
The wirdstorm in it's restless moaning, whist
ling search for something which IL could tear
down cid not spare the tall steeple ofthe Met
ropolitan Il. l.. church. Two years ago the spire
was started out OF the perpendicular by q fierce
gale, and has never since been exactly plumb.
Yesterday morning when the gale struck the
steeple it swayed Perceptibly in the air There
were huIdreds Of people in the neighborhood
during the day who came TO view the leaning
spiIe, and the police early barricadedthc road.
way. TO prevent any possible less Of life. The
residents in the LeIghborhood wero much
alarmed, ard greatly feared less OF life and
property in cG Sc the tall spire should fall The
lower leaned in q southeasterly detection
About room workmen were ssut up into tho
spire, ard Stats OF the long Windows in that nor.
tion where the chimes aye situated were knocked
out 10 reduce the resistance to the wind. ROnes
were carried up and used TO give such Security !
possible TO the apparently tottcrins steeple the
chime bells are hung in that portion OF the
steeple Immediately above tho stone work, and
are many tons in weight. Dir. widows thu
superintendent OF the chimes, remained about
them all day, ard Occasionally struck the bells to
assure the people and himself that they remained
intact.
The spiTe rises to height of go feet from the
ground. The tower, OF Seneca stone masonry, is
leo feet in height, and the steeple, of strong tim
her work surmounting this, IS $50 feet high. Ths
steeple proper is cclagOnal in shape, and its
strcnsth lies in eight iimbers at each corner Of
the CCtagcn, which are sunk in the stone work Of
the tower TO the depth o!tBiIIy-three feet. These
timbCrs were constructed necessarily in sections
and are fPliGed with iron bolts. During the
heavy gale of July 1. 1874, tie strain upon the
spiIe caTeeEed it little, and the bolt holes in
the LoTth side were enlarged, so as 10 give play
OF about three quarters OF an inch, although NOT
materially lessening the security OF the structure
During the heavy gales oil yesterday the spire
careened. as II on hinge, the three quarters OF
an il ch allowed it at its base, making the top ap-
pear to be'a great way out OF the perpendicular.
The possibility Of its falling was not imminent,
and when the wind died out in the evening all
danger was removed. Inspector Pl0wman early
in the day addressed q written notice TO the
trustees OF the church to make the Steeple secure
Mr.. Dewdepy, OF the Treasury Department, and
other experts were called upon Tor advice and
guy ropes, secured to the tmbers sixty feet above
the stone work, were carried to the north and west
and fastened On street and in the church yard
1t is intended TO repair the steeple Immediately,
and make it even stronger than 1t was before, by
strong iron splints Of considerable length.
SOUTH WASHINGTON.
The southwestern portion Of the city, or the
Island did not escape the fury Of the blast.
TIE roofs were blown Oh houses corner Of Four
ard-a-Halt and .Maryla avenue, corner Eighth
and southwest, Academy of the Sacred HEARTH
Eve houses belonging to q. B. Church, Eleventh
street, between and + No. i3) Seventh street,
(Woltord * Shilberg;) Walkers store, -Four.
and. a Ii alf street, between E and +; two houses
on Virginia avenue. between One-Half and First
streets west, Is. NOrment'sD Virginia avenue,
between Third and Four and a-Half streets, Up.
kearney's:) one unrooled on Four-and-a- half
street, between j and and G; Gray & Noyes'
foundry roof badly damaged trees and fences
lying around. The damage TO property In South
Washington was very extensive. The houses oc-
cupied by Messrs. Gee. CLEAR and HauIenback on
Eleventh street southwest, were swept of their
tin coverings as completely as though done by the
timer. The house occupied by Messrs. William
Turner and Charles A. Taylor suffered to a great
extent, the roofs being taken entirely off and
landed in the street. The fire alarm telegraph
wire at this point " as also blown down. The tin
roof On Edward Weser's house, on Seventh street,
between ID and f streets s)utbwest, was complete.
ly torn off and removed some distance into sew.
enth street.
NH