Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-06
THE GREAT STORM TEsT
Damage by Wind, Rain Hail and
Lfghtnfng-LOss of l. re and Pro.

perry
One of the most VIC .ens and destructive
storms "nlcn mas eve visited this section of
the country looh place yesterday afternoon.
The storm came. upon us from the north a lit
at first a'.ceared but small and thin and
seemed 70 be drifting eastward, rapidly as
SCp.ee. huge dimensions, darkened, and were
S.nltied about in the tornado. This city must
diStur bance, for the high wind rapidly Veered
from point to point, while vivid flashes of
lightning, crashing thunder and a continuous
rafting OF hail stones with great sheets of
falling water, made the scene an awe inspr
ing one, which will be long remembered by
those who saw it. For about an hour the rain
came down in torrents, and stroke after
stroke of lightning descended, the wing blow
ing and the hail (much of it as large as mar
bles) striking the windows and breaking
was so much water fell as to overflow many
OF the sewers, and some of the streets were
Hooded from curb to curb. The avenue for
time. with the railroad track only above the
water which extended from curb TO curb, had
the appearance of two canals with one tow
path in the middle. T.iere was at least one
LIE lost and several persons in ured, and the
damage to property was immense
THE SCENES AROUND THE CENTER MARKET
were very lively. The water rose SO rapidly
that the hucksters and dealers fcould not re
measures cabbageS, watermelOnS, egg plants,
apples and onions were floating all over B
street. ThecolOred men and boys commenced
fOrag.ng, and many OF them collected enough
marketing to last them for days. In some
cases they would bring their loads ashore and
deposit them in secure place start out again,
truck had flOated off again. One stout fellow
tugged hard to save barrel of potatoes which
he set up against the iron fence, between b
street and the Smithsonian grounds, where
he thought them secure, and Off lie started for
another. The owner of the potatoes saw the
act. and taking advantage OF the wrecker's
Ixcnv or,1 1tr,fV
eled the barrel himself and placed it in the
market house by his stand, and the colored
man on his return with basket of onions
thought the flood had fioated it Off. He stood
dazed for minute looking in vain down street
for it. ''GOlly," said he, and started for more
punder. b street was covered from eth to
18th street with almost everything that could
float. A small white girl came very near be.
ing drawn down sewer trap at the corner of
18th and Is streets, where the water formed a
whirlpool. She was completely supmerged in
PUBLIC GROUNDS FLOODED.
-, The water oyerflowed the lower portion of
the Agricultural grounds several feet deep,
rendering it impossible for pedestrians to pass
them for hours. This morning thick deposit
OF mud and debris is spread all over the low
grounds the trees Jared pretty badly, many
being disfgured by having their branches
twisted OF, and the foliage considerably cut
by the hail. The Botanical garden was most
muddy lake. The flood has left there a thick
deposit of mud. Considerable damage has
been done the plants and shrubbery.
WOMAN BURIED UNDER THE RUINS OF HER
HOUSE.
A house situated on the tow path, at the foot
OF 10Th street, was washed away and blown
over into the river. 1t was occupied by a col
Ored family named Sharp. and when the house
began to move the husband seized his little
child and made his escape through the front
door: His wife Mary attempted to get out OF
and she was buried under it. The body was
removed and taken to the fourth precinct sta
ton by Officers Riley and Cunningham. DR..
SOthoron viewed the body and pronounced it
a case of death by suffOcatiOn.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
A large tree on the east side Of as street, be-
tween Missouri and Maine avenues, was struck
by lightning, which plOwed out large grooves
Browning, who was standing in his doorway,
81 Missouri avenue and he was unconscious
for nearly an hour afterwards. His father,
standing by him at the time, was slightly
stunned. "A chimney at police headquarters
was struck, and shower of bricks thrown on
to the roof. The lightning struck one of the
ing off some of the stone, which damaged the
lightning rod and the stone work. A schooner
anchored on the flats had her tOpmaSt Shiv-
e1ed o. OF aw bre OF the
off by the lightning. A large tree in the rear
of the Sunaay Herald office was struck by
lightning and split. The lightning ran down
the telegraph wires of the Republican build
ing, struck the the fire alarm gong, and made
a terrific report. A messenger in the Treasury
was stunned. The lightning knocked a large
street, between / and X southeast, and the
building was unrOofed by the wind. The vio-
lence of the first peal of thunder shook the
grocery store occupied by Mr. Curtin. 1C 10 |
crOckery from the shelves. The residences of
John H. Russell and G. E. Joyce, on 18th street.
between b and southeast, was struck by
lightning: the tin along the outer edge OF the
roof was badly damaged, glass was broken in
the house and tie lightning rod badly bent.
The lightning struck three story frame house
in the same row, badly damaging the weather.
boarding near the roof and foundation, and
breaking several panes OF glass. Lightning
struck and shattered tree at 18th and Bound
any streets. The lightning and wind played
sad havoc with the telegraph wires in the city.
and in many places the wires are down. Three
new houses being erected on Connecticut
Mattingly, were struck by lightning, demol-
ishing a portion of the side and back walls of
one, ana damaging it to the extent of about
$40. The steepe of st. Joseph's church was
struck by lightning, as was the house of Mrs
Ellis, opposite the church, but little damage
WINS done. The house of Mr.. Masack. corner
OF l4th and Massachusetts avenue northeast
pigeon boxes, killing all Of the birds. The same
bolt struck the house of Officer Sicily, about
800 yards distant. breaking the window glass;
anu Ills CulIU WdS Dduly cut ny fragments.
The house Of Mr.. McNally, on b street. be-
tween 18th and 18th south, was struck, as also
the house of Mr.. John Shelton, and the latter's
little Swear old boy was knocked SenSeleSs
and lay dead for some minutes.
The wooden Indian in front OF ThOS John
sons cigar store, on street, between 81 and
Sd streets southeast, was struck by lightning
and smashed to pieces.
THE FLOOD.
All around the market house and south OF
the avenue from the Capitol to the White Lot
the streets were flooded and many OF the Gel
lars and Easements were filled. Fortunately
the water in the river was low, and in a short
time the water ran of through the sewers
There was a lake about the b. & p. depot the
water being UP to the steps, and the floors of
the Metropolitan cars as they went back and
forth were covered with water, making it ne
eeSSary Tor the passengers to stand up ON the
seats to keep dry. The water rose so rapidly
that in Martins restaurant 10Th street and
Pennsylvania avenue), the basement of the
Howard house, opposite and other places, the
occupants were over shoe top in water before
they had the least apprehension of flood, land
in a little time some Of the Easements con-
tanned more water than ever before, in some
instances the water being above the doorways
and within a few inches of the ceilings.
MORE DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS.
Among the losses may be noticed the follow
ing: Castle Stewart on Connecticut and
Massachusetts avenues; ball room damaged
by water; the servants rooms above were in
undated, and the water soon soaked through
4 IA nd In Str into