The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-10
LOCAL MATTERS.
wednesday Nisht,s storm.

! Wednesday Nights Storm.
some OF ITS DAMAGE m AND NEAR THE cry
THE WHEAT AND OTHER CROPS FRUSTRATED
OR DEsTRoYED-STABLESA AND BARNS BLOWN
DoWE-HoUsES STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, &C,
The storm which burst upon the city
about O'Clock on Wednesday night with
so much fury was even more violent in the
neighborhood Of Richmond than in the city
itself, especially on the northern border,
from one TO two miles from the city, where,
, with pitiless severity, it destroyed or mate
rally injured crops, fruit-trees, or whatever
else OF vegetation was standing in its
track. The belt OF the storm was not
yerY'Wide, however, its track extending
from west to east, and occupying width
OF probably three quarters OF a mile.
From point OF observation in the city there
seemed to be two storms, one coming up
from the west, apparently over Hollywood,
or q little south OF it, and the other from q
northerly direction, over Shockoe-uill Gem
etery, and they seemed to meet near the
centre OF the city. a few vivid flashes of
lightning, followed by distant peals of
thunder, then heavy gust of wind, and
the storm was fairly upon US. 1t reminded
one OF the heavy storm we generally have
towards the close OF July, which seems to
mark the dividing line between the sum-
mer and early fall, and to note the fact that
the backbone of the summer is broken.
Flash after flash Of the most vivid light
ming was quickly followed by sharp and
heavy peals OF thunder, which seemed to
shake the city. Then came the rain in tor
rents. Until nearly midnight rain continued
to fall, but the heaviest part Of the storm last
ed not longer than an hour. In the city the
lightning danced over the house-tops and
did some damage. The chimney OF DIR. A.
Taylor's house, No. 913 west Main street,
was struck and knocked down to the roof.
A bolt which came to the earth near the cor
ner OF Main and First streets seemed to di-
vide itself, portion striking chimney on
Mr.. Jesse Child's residence, knocking off
number OF bricks, while another part Of the
bolt struck tree in the same locality. Per-
SONS who were passing at the time were
affected by it-some OF them quite sensibly.
A tree in Mrs. Pemberton's yard, on Baker
street between First and Second streets,
was struck, and Mrs. Penn mberton, her son,
and Mr.. Edward Beale somewhat stunned.
The residence Of Judge Edward Fl. Fitz-
hugh, corner OF Fifth aad Leigh streets,
was also struck. The fluid ran down the
lIghtning-rod until it struck nail, which
it melted, and, entering one Of the rooms OF
the house, injured the mantelpiece, and
then went out and down into the ground.
The dwelIing-house No. 107 east Main street
was also struck, but not materially damaged.
The damage in the city beyond the blowing
down of several trees does not appear to be
very heavy.
In the county-especlally on the Brook
and Cary-Street roads and the Richmond
and Henrico turnpike-the storm ragged
with great severity. At the toll-gate on the
Brook turnpike Mr.. Charles Hartwe!Ps
chimney was blown down. Hail fell in that
vicinity in large quantities, the stones being
larger than birds egg. The wheat, oats,
vegetables, clover, truit-trees, &C., were all
badly injured. Leaves from the oak trees
strewed the road and were completely rifled
by the hail. Franklin Davis & Co.'s fruit
trees were injured in the same neighbor-
hood, and an old aspen tree about two miles
from the city was blown down across the
road, but was subsequently removed. All
along the track OF the storm the wheat, which
is lust now in full bloom, was more or less
injured-perhaps destroyed. 1t was blown
down by the wind, and the stalks broken
and torn by the hail. The present stage OF
it's growth being so near maturity dispels
all hope OF its recovery from such blow.
Among those whom we have heard OF as
losers in this way are Joseph NJ. Fourqu-
rean, Captain J. D. Fry, Jonah Cooper, and
J. ID. Redford. Grapes also, many Of which
were in bloom, received very great injury
from the hail. Strawberries, too Dust now
ripening), were greatly injured, not only
by the peltlng of the hail, but the berries
were covered with dirt by the rain beating
it upon them. Mrs. Fourqurean, who pays
great deal OF attention to flowers, found
in the morning that her beautiful beds and
borders were all ruined.
The top of Mr.. Gentry's barn, in the
same neighborhood, was blown off.
Mr.. Mosby, who has a young but very
large nursery on the Richmond and Hen
rico turnpike, north of the city, says that
the two. and three-year,old trees are not
seriously hurt, they being more In the edge
OF the storm. Some of the young stock,
however, planted last fall, was slightly hurt.
Such is its wonderful recuperatiye power
that no material damage will be sustained.
At Dr. Beattie's, on the Grove road,
few fruit-trees were damaged, and one or
two other trees stripped Of their limbs. The
wheat was also injured; but the rust had
made sad havoc with it before, and so the
damage by the storm made but little differ
ence.
20 Joseph Heeke's, on the North road,
one mile from the city, the hail was as large
as guinea-eggs, and fell with such force as TO
make dents in the out-houses. His wheat,
clover, flowers, and vegetables were all
more or less injured.
At William j. Campbell's, on the Cary
Street road, the wind blew down his barn
and stable, and two of his horses narrowly
escaped being killed in theruns.