Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-22
Violent SforsII.


Yesterday afternoon North Albany, n. Y,
was visited by violent wind storm, leaving in
its track soenc Of ruin, but fortunately result
ing io 30 loss of human life. There was scarcely
any premontion Of tho coming storm. and
there was but little wind moment before; but
10 not moro than five or ten seconds of time the
hurricane struck, uuroofed. and destroyed six
teen buildings. including the large brick retort
house of the Peoples Gaslight Company and
the Waervliet Horse Railroad Company 8
barn. 1t then passed on its destructive course
to the lumber district. Whero very heavy dam.
age was inflicted by the upsetliog OF many piles
OF lumber and scattering their contents promls.
cuously in all directions. From the accounts Of
various observers at different points, it appears
that there wore two storms, moving IN nearly
opposite directions. Ooo was seen approach.
ing from the northeast, accomp panied by heavy
black cloud, moving with great rapidity, and
another coming from poiat little south of
west, the two currents meeting 10 the vicinity
of West Albany and forming cyclone of terri
bic force. 10 an irs:ant the air was filled with
dense clouds or dust, branohea of trees. flying
timbers, roofs Of buildings, and various other
debris. Trees wero split as if struck by light.
ming and twisted 10 every conceivable shape,
and some having diameter of from two to
three feet were lifted out of the ground by the
roots Hoavy tin and single roofs were car
two franc dwellings and three barns were en-
tirely destroyed. The fences asd sheds at the
cattle yards we're badly damaged. Owing to
the accident to the gas works the whole north
ern part of the city was in total darkoess last
night. The horse railroad company had four
horses killed and twenty others moro or less
Injured. The losses, it is believed, will ap-
preach 100000.
The spire of St. Paui's Methodist Episcopal
church at Mddletowo, New Yor k, was blown
down yesterday during violent thunder storm.
1t fell upon house on the opposite side OF the
street, crushing it down to the first story. The
occupants of the house escaped serious Injury.
The congregation had been dismissed, but
many remained for the rain to stop. Many
buildings were unroofed.
A REL1sIoJs MoNoMANIAc.-The people in
the village of Rhes Spring, Tennessee, were
thrown into wild excitement on yesterday by
the peculiar antics of relig Gus monomaniac
named Collins. At FIVE q. m. he went into a
Methodist church and tore up all the books as
he said, to get the devil out of them. BE then
passed through and out of the town, distance
of two miles. Concluding the devil was in ais
clothing and that Jesus had commissioned him
to 80 into the church IS naked as he had come
into the world he pulled off his clothing and in
a state Of nature started back on rum followed
by constantly Increasing multitude of people,
who failed to overtske him. Passing through
the town he finally approached the church, then
occupied by the Sunday school. A man at
tempted to stop him and was knocked senseless
by stone; another he felled with his fist. By
this time crowd bad gathered about him, but
owing to profuse perspration, which made
him as slippery as an eel, it was difficult to hold
him. Once secured and bound he was taken to
the jail at Washington.
Next morning the jsiler went into his cell to
and harmless. The jsiler passed inside the cell
door and turned to lock it. Collins at that mo.
m tent picked up heavy board and struck the
taller on the back of the head, knocking him
down and then beating his head into the cond-
ton of q jelly The jaier's wife subsequently
came in to see what had become Of her husband;
but raising her dress to 90 up stairs, she did not
see Collins until she got to the top. He was
covered with bic cd from head to foot Collins
at once struck her violent blow on her
head, knocking her down the stsirWsy and then
rushed to his CELL in which was his bloody vic.
tim and locked himself in.
Collins is An Irishmsn, and was until two
wears ago Catholic; at that time he joined the
Methodist church, south, with the understand
ing that he was to cease drinking intoYicating
LIQUORS A religious meeting has been IN pro-
press and it was not known that he had become
q religious monomanisc until Sunday morning.