Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-08
The STORM.
A Furious Blow this Morning at
0clOCk-Thunder, Light
ming and Rain.
Houses Unroefsd, Trees UpreOted,
Signs Blown Down - Con.
siderable Damage.

when the city was wrapped in sleep a
furious wind and rain storm broke upon
the city. It was attended by continuous
peals of thunder, and vivid lightning iiu-
minated the whole heavens and added
terror to the sublime scene. The air had
been extremely sultry for some hours,
and in consequence many windows and
doors we're open, thrs giving the whirling
winds free play in many sleeping apart
ments. The greater portion Of our pee.
pie we're awakened at the 6rst shock, and
many who had read of destructive storms
in various parts of the country we're
seriously alarmed. and not without cause.
The storm seemed to come from the
southwest, although the wind had been
blowing from other points of the com
pass a short time before. 1t seemed to
be q circular wind, partsking Of the ma
tlre Of a w%hirlwind, although tending 10
one general direction. 1t did not strike
all parts of the city with equal force
The force seems to have been broken by
the high buildings on the bluff, and after
that to have scattered in various direc.
tons. The damage was considerable.
We enumerate as follows:
The large tin roof on the Magnolia
block, at the corner Of Union and Front
streets, was lifted up aud off aud a por-
ton Of it carried half a square aod
lodged on the roof of Denie & Co.'S
house on Union street. Another portion
was carried on to the roof of F. w. Whits
& Co., 1872 Front street, next door: the
skylight was blown in aud the offices aud
bedrooms on the third floor deluged
With water. The offices on the second
floor, over the clearinghouse at 1884
Front street, were oHly slightly dam
aged, hut the water was all over the
floors Of 1896, running down into the
store of G. A. Eckerly & Co., damaging
their stock several hundred dollars.
The top front Of c. II Brackets
stables, a handsomo piece Of ornamental
work, at Nos. 32l and 1923 Second street,
was blown down, asd the rear of P. NJ.
Patterson Il Co.'S old stable, ON Monroe
street, was blown in.
About thirty feet Of the roof Of Also.
brook l. Co.'s cotton-shed, corner Of
Third and Union streets, was blowa OF,
aud likewise thirty feet of the roof Of s..
B. Shelton & Co.'s shed, on Union street,
one door east Of Third.
A part OF the roof of the elegant resi-
dence Of Gen. James K. Williams, at
No 76 Union street, was blown away,
aud one of DR.. Frayser's chimneys, at
No. lO4 Union street, was blown down
on the roof.
The large sign OF Ferguson & Co &,
saddlers, at 324 Second street, was blown
of aud fell on the street.
The large sign Of the Memphis Cotton
seed Association, fastened on with four
iron bars, was wrenched from it's place
on the roof of a three.story building at
23O Front street. The Southern oil mills
we're slightly damaged, but we did not
learn the extent.
A large tree was blown down on the
residence Of Mr.. Charles Hines, on Pop.
lar street, east Of Dunlap, and large oak
trees two and n halt feet in diameter
we're literally torn up by the roots in the
grove Of Mr.. j. c. Johnson, on Poplar
street. Many signs we're blown down,
and smaller damages inflicted in various
parts of the city.
A considerable loss occurred 10 the
Peabody Hotel. The temporary roof
placed on that portion Of the building
lately damaged by FIRE, and also the
chlmneys, were blown down into the al
ley. The losses were generally rather
small and hard to get at.
A portion Of the tin roof Of GUY, Nc
Clellan & Co.'S building. at 26O and 262
Front street, blew off. Damage 5000 or
$500.
The wind came from southwest to
northeast and travelled at the rate Of only
thirty six miles an hour at its highest,
but with a rotary motion, which made it
40 destructive.