The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-14

last night. Rain fell in torrents. and was
accompanied by tremendous gale. Great
destruction is reported in the rural dis
tricls, especially to railroad property.
Tn the Vicinity of Richmond.
Very few OF our readers had any idea
that the storm OF Thursday night would
prove TO lie one of such serious nature.
Indeed, it was not until yesterday, when the
details began to come in, that its magnitude
was fully appreciated, and even at this
writing 1t is hardly probable that we have
| had full information OF its destruction eX-
cept in our Immediate vicinity. Here IN
Richmond, from 0 O'Clock at night until
long after midnight, the wind blew at times
almost gale, and about midnight the rain
| fell in torrents. In some portions of the
city few trees were blown down or limbs
twisted of, and in one instance chimney
top was carried away; but the storm
here, it now appears, was nothing
like as severe as it was in the upper end OF
Henrico county, or in some portions OF
Chesterfield county. The special telegrams
which we published yesterday from Colds
boro' and Burkeville, giving graphic ac-
counts OF the doings OF the tornado In those
localities, no doubt warned many persons
of the coming OF the storm; but it was
hoped that its fury would have been spent
before it reached these parts.
EFFECT OF TIE TORNADO N HESRIcO.
Early yesterday morning information was
received here to tue effect that the storm
| had PLAYED havoc in the upper end OF the
county. During the day these reports were
confirmed, and gentlemen from the county
gave graphic accounts OF it, violence. They
heard the deep, roaring sound OF tie wind as
! it came nearer and nearer, until finally IL
burst upon the section OF country between
| Tuckahoe creek and Westham branch with
great fury. 1t appeared to come from the
southeast, and passcd'of n0rthwe5tW2rdly
towards Short Pump, and across the country
to the Broad Street road. It's track was mol
wider than one hundred and fifty wards, but
the damage done within that space was I'M
usual.
WHERE THE STORM CROSSED THE JAMES.
The storm crossed james river on Thurs
day evening about 5 O'Clock from the
direction OF Chesterfield county, and en-
| tered Henrico county short distance
below Bosher's dam. It's track there was
about 125 wards in width, and in it trees OF
| the largest size were proStratcd, both OAK
and pine. The effect OF the storm on the
! wooded country through which it passed
made it look as though broad roadWaV
had been cleared out. Everything IN It's
way was prostrated or destroyed. Where
trees were not uprootcd they were torn
and twisted off like twigs. Nothing seemed
to withstand its fury.
SCENE OF HAVOC.
"Ravenswood,' the home OF Mr.. E!m;lic
G. Higginbotham, appears to have been IN
the very centre Of the track OF the tornado.
His residence is situated about seven el@hth>
OF mile from the main road Qhc River
road) on the north side, and IS between
eight and nine miles from this city. Lis
home and the farm to-day present Il sad
spectacle indeed. His house fronts towards
tic river,wh is a little more than mile Off.
1t is a commodious brick-and-iramc Struc-
tlre, and in front was spacious portlco run
ming the whole length Of the house. The
wind completely demolished this perch, and
it fell with an immense crash, greatly alarm
ing the inmates. One Of his daughters, Miss
Rosa Higginbotham, young lady well
known in this city, was OH the porch ut The
time the storm came up, and had she not
been hurried into the house would probably
have been buried beneath the ruins OF the
Dortico, AID killed when it fell.
DESTRUCTION OF oUT-HouSEs.
Soon after the porch gave way his barn
was destroyed, and three fine horses
caught beneath the ruins. Fortunately,
however. they were not killed, for in
the barn was stored Il large crop OF
hav and other proycnder, which ctirc-
| tually prevented the heavy tImbcrs from
directly resting on them and crushing them
to death. One OF the next buildings TO 90
was mis- carriage-housc, wblc! vas situated
about 100 yards cast OF the dwe'llng-houSe,
on the east side. This building was COM
| petciy demolished. His carriage was in
| the carria.e-housc, and was also greatly
damaged, but not Elown away, being in
! measure protected by the timberS OF the
building.
| The ice-hollSe was also destroyed; that is,
all OF the building above ground was blown
down and the boards scattered or carried
| away by the wind. The Kitchen. an old
| fashioned Virginia structure, was turned
completely around and moved from its
position, and the chimney blown down.
OTHER DESTRUCTION.
| In the yard there was large number OF
| beeniycs, probably forty or fifty, and yes
terday when search for them was made
only four or five could he found. The
rest had been either blown away nr COM
plcIely destroyed. The splendid orchard.
| too, situated OH the northwest side OF the
house, where there were hundreds OF fine
fruit-trees, was entirely devastated, not a
tree left standing. All Of Nir. lIiggin-
botham's fences in the track OF the storm
were blown down, and the plankS or rails
generally carried away by tae wind. The
loss which this gentleman las sustained will
amount 10 fully $1,000, ii not more.
From Mr.. UiGginbotham's the storm
passed off in the direction OF Mr. Smith
Carter's place, blowing down the chlmneyS
of his dwelIing-house and turning the
dwelling up on its side.
NARROW ESCAPES.
Mrs. Carter, who was in The house at the
time, narrowly escaped with her Youngest
child in her arms, the other childlen fol-
lowing. Almost as soon as she got out OF
the house, Mrs. Carter was blown PROSTATE.
and in falling injured her child, and it Is
feared fatally.
Mr.. Hughes, Weshman, had his new
house completely demolished, and he was
struck on the back by flying tlmbers and
painfully injured. He was approaching 8
the house at the time.
Nr. John 7. Duval resides near Mr.. Uig-
ginbotham's residence, on the west. The
and stable, completely wrecking them and
scattering their contents.
NEAR sHoRT.PUMP
A negro woman named Dauphane. who
lives in the neighborhood Of Short-Puur, in
q substantial log structure, had her house
entirely demolished.
Abraham Harris and William Cary, both
colored, also had their houses destroyed.
Our informant states that persons in the
country, and very naturally so, were greatly