The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-05-03
THE srOR a.
The Effects of the Flood and Play OF
the Lightning.

the Lightning.
The heaviest rain and thunder storm that
ever visited this section was that of yesterday.
About s o'clock ia the morning it began 10
rain hard, aud for two hours the rain fell in
torrents, flooding the streets in the lower
part Of the city, and in some places the
water OVERLOOKED the pavements. The bed
of the street car track on Main street was
running stream, and In many places the
water was foot deep in the streets. That
portion of Main street between Austin and
Lamar was entirely covered with water. The
cutters were submerged and in many places
the sewers we're inadequate to carry it off
90 great was the volume, and
the consequence was general overflow in
the business center which caused considers-
BILE damage TO property. The cellar of
Sanger brothers wa, overlooked, though but
little damage resulted here. The retaining
wall OF the Main street sewer at the corner
of Main and Murphy streets gave way to the
food and the east wall of the basement Of the
building of Kain & Campbell. in process Of
erection just on the opposite side of the
street fell, letting in q vast volume of water
which covered il to the depth of several feet.
The damage done the building will amount
to some four hundred dollars Other build.
ipgs were more or less injured by the food.
the low portions OF the city were deluged,
and in the fats the water entered some houses.
The Trinity river is rapidly rising, and the
creeks in the county were impossible yester-
day. The rainfall was confined pretty much
to this county.
The most remarkable feature of the storm
was the lightning, which struck bjects at
several points in the city. The atmosphere
was heavily charged with cleo.
.ricity and the lightning, which
by loud peals Of thunder. The city hall was
struck while the mayors court was in ses.
sion, and those present escaped with only a
lively shock. The main bolt must have
struck the lightning rod of the belfry, and q
part Of It the center Of the building. which
caused the shock. There were two loud
explosions as the current passed through the
ceiling, distinct though close together, resem
bling very much the swapping Of q gun cap,
clerk Of the court, was writing the word
and, and had Just about finished the first
letter when the clap came, which caused his
Ann to iurk, his pencil describing
something similar 10 forked lightning. The
bolt made small hole in the ceiling of
about the dimensions of an ordinary lead
pencil. The Presbyterian parsonage, at the
corner of Live Oak and Pearl streets, which
is nearing completion, was also visited by
the lightning which struck the observatory,
doing considerable damage. The four win
dows of this part Of the building were shat.
tered and some of the glass melted by the
intense heat to which it was subjected. The
laths, joists and other timbers were shivered
into splinters, and the damage will amount
to some $500 or more. There was a plas-
terer at work in the lower part
of the building, who, TO use his own expires.
sion, was considerably shaken up. Four
workmen had quit the observatory a few
minutes prior to Its being struck, and the
chagrin of wicked reporters on learning this
was great. The residence of Mr.. w. B..
Greenlaw, on Caruth street, was not neg
lected. His residence was struck, the
lightning tearing off a shutter, splitting it
into kindling wood and sparks Of electricity
exploded in tho room. The play of the
lightning along the telegraph wire was lively,
and the operators in the different office, absn-
doned their instruments from which sparks
of electricity we're constantly flying. About
quarter of mile south of the transfer
telegraph office of the Texas Central road the
lightning struck telegraph pole bursting an
insulation, kllinga horse close BY, and SO.
verely shocking and buring the face of Mr..
g. 4. Sypert.