Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-28

THE STORM LAST NIGHT.
Great Damage by Rain, Wind, Hail
and Lightning.
THE CTlY HALL, B. AND o. RAILROAD DEPOT, MA
SONIC TEMPLE, FRANKLIN AND wALLACH
SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND ST. ALoYsIUs CHURCH
TIE WASHINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE. AND
MANY DWELLINGS DAMAGED-HUNDRKDs OF
TREES BLOWN DOWN.
AS the sun went down last night an ominous
black storm cloud, fltfuly Illuminated by light
ming. appeared on the northern horizon. The
storm was driven rapidly upon the city against
the fresh breeze blowing from the south, and
no quarter of the city escaped its destructive
fury. Old Inhabitants canrot remember any
storm which surpassed this In severity. 1t was
OF short duration, lasting only an hour, but
during that hour raiD hall. lightning and
wind combined to make spectacle sucn as is
rarely witnessed. Most OF the damage done
about the city was due to the high gale OF wind,
which unroofed houses and uprOOted treets In
every direction, though much glass was broken
Dy hall, and In some sections Of the city house
owners suffered on account of overlowing
sewers. The greatest damage appears to have
been done Ia the northern and northwestern
part OF the city. The destruction OF trees is
something unprecedented. In the West End
where the wind had full sweep along the broad
avenues and across the broad parks and circles,
PROMINENT BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
portion OF the tin roof of the City Hall,
over the west wing, was blown off, and carried
some distance down ~ st. Rafters and coping
stones were also ripped from their places by the
wind. The Register of Wills Office suffered
severe damage from the water that ran through
the ceiling. Architect Clark at once took steps
to have the damage repaired. A portion of the
roof OF the Masonic Temple was torn off and
deposited on the opposite side OF F street. A
tower On the south side Of the Franklin school
building was blown down, and the Wallach
school building, in East Washington, was par
TALLY unroofed. The large gilt cross surmount.
lpg the tower Of st. Aloysius church was COM
Of the Baltimore and Ohio depot was unroofed.
All OF the public buildings suffered more or less
by wind and hall.
THE CITY HALL.
The gale took off quite lot of the roof OF the
City Hall, mostly from the central portion, and
the building was badly damaged by water, but
fortunately the records were not damaged
Ore OF the ventilators from the top OF the
building was sent crashing across the street
through one Of the windows In Mr.. BradIey's
Office. The ceilings OF the court rooms were
badly damaged.
Mr. Edward Clark, the architect of the Cari-
tol. under whose care the City Hall is, visited
1t last evening Immediately after the storm.
damages by ordering force Of workmen on
the ground. careful inspection OF the build
Ing today shows that the damage is much
greater than it was at first supposed. All the
roof on the north side Of the building, extend
1Lg from the northwest corner to the center of
the east wing Is gone. Several OF the ventlla-
tors and some OF the chimneys are laid flat. A
part OF the heavy stone coping on the walls
were thrown OF The records of the Probate
Court register of willis ofce) are all preserved
being In the safe, but the furniture and car.
pets nave been ruined by the water falling Off
the ceilings The papers In the clerks desk
were ruined 1t is fortunate that the storm
occurred at night for had 1t occurred during the
day doubtless some OF the clerks would have
been killed by the falling debris, as one OF the
stones fell plump In the room they occupy. MIR.
Clark estimates the damage to the City Hall at
morning Mr.. Clark notified Judge James that
1t was not safe to hold court In the Circuit
room, and after short session ne adjourned
1t. Judge Wylle did not hold the Equity CourJ
In the usual place, but adjourned to the Alder
mems cham Der.
AT THE B. AND p. DEPOT
they had barely succeeded In turning the water
which fell In the heavy shower In the afternoon
into the sewer when the thunder storm broke
and In little time there was a lake about the
building, the water being up to level with the
floor. This made 1t necessary for Carriages 10
drive into the yard of the depot and take and
ltn0 pas SengerS directly on the plat orm. VIII lie
one one OF the switchmen was attending to his du
lightning struck the telegraph wires near Dy
and playing along 10 pole few feet from
him, seemed to wrap Itself round 1t, knocking
off fragments OF the wood and scattering them
about.
THE WASHINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE
At the Spencerlan Business College, corner OF
7th ana L streets, which was uuroofed at the
first assault OF TIE storm, the sidewalks and
carriageway on the L street front were literally
filled with the debris Of the roof-immense
sheets OF tin and timbers strewn about in In
extricable confusion. Upon entering the build
in great streams, as though issuing from q
fountain. In the nrst, or main hall, OF the Busl-
ness college furniture CT all kinds was stacked
up. and numerous busy hands were active In
moppiDg up the fioors. In the third story com
pT1sing the minor hall and living rooms OF the
family, everything looked perfect wreck.
Whilst platoon Of college volunteers were Wig
o1ously applying nrooms in disposing Into a
common channel the streams OF water still
pouring down through the perforated ceiling,
the principal, In his shirt sleeves the vice prln
clpal, In turban, and the corps OF assistant
teachers, all staying the ceaseiess rush OF
water. bedding, clothing, furniture and fixtures
all seemed TO have just been rescued froma
watery grave. IL is said that when the crash
came, the classes were busy at recitation Sud-
denly, all the lights were eXtinguished but
amidst the crashing OF tlmoers ana roar OF the
tempest, the voices the principals were heard
cauiioning to coolness, and no doubt to this
presence Of mind is 1t due that no disastrous
stampede occurred. Whist the loss OF property
is great. no one was injured In the least, and
all finally rather made light OF the fright and
tolls of the night The building is owned by
Samuel Norment. esq, and besides requiring
and extensive repairs OF broken windows, re-
painting, ETC., involving an expenditure of
several thousand dollars TO the proprietor.
A PANIC AT FORD'S OPERA HOUSE,
A temposary panic was created at Ford's
Opera House, where the commencement of ST.
Johns Collegiate Institute was being held.
when the storm burst over It. The rain and
hail poured into the windows and the bowling
wind seemed about to carry the building from
its foundations. The binding flashes Of light
mir and peals Of thunder added to the fright
and confusion. Ladies screamed and tainted.
and many people made rush for the DOORS
Brother Tobias. with great presence of mind,
ordered the bahd to pay, and the music haG
the effect Of quletiDg the fears Of the people.
FREAKS OF THE LIGHTNING.
A railing on the top of the Pension Office was
struck by lightning and twisted into fantastic
shapes; a portion of it was carried entirely
away. Lightning struck brick house south
OF the medical museum building, on 10th street.
The flag pole In froAt of Police Headquarters
was cut down by lightning. Several trees were
struck in the subufb bs OF the city. The owners
OF many houses whose roofs were blowa Off
allege that their houses we're first struck by
lightning. Mrs. Lewis house, corner OF 9th
and streets, was struck by lightning and the
back walls somewhat shattered. A bolt of
lightning struck house 1415 9th street, and set
the flooring on fire. but 1t was extinguished.
The three-stOry brick on 9Th street. aoove X,
occupied by Mrs. Bender, was struck by ughtn.
Ing and uDr0ofed. Mr.. j. T. Prather's house
on N stTeer, between 4th and 5uh, was struck
bV lightning and norton 0f tno walls knocbed