The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-06-28
THE STORM KINGS FEST,
WITH ACCOMPANIMENT OF THUN-
DER, LIGHTNING, RAIN AND HAIL.

Immense Destruction OF property
Buildings UnroOfcd. Chimncys
Blown Over. Cellars Flooded. Trees
Uprootcd and the Elements I'm
Row Generally.
The common query last night was, did
the comet have anything to do with the
Storm" That has not, rs yet been an
swered, but there was storm just the same
and one that with its thunder, lightning,
rain, wind and hail, and in the way of fury
and dcstructivcncss surpasses anything tnat
mas ever occurred in the recollection of the
Oldest inhabitant. People
WATCHED ITS PROGRESS, AwE-sTRTCKEN.
The binding flashes of lightning and
deafening thunder was something awful to
behold, and it was with II sigh OF relief that
the watchers witnessed the final departure
of the storm-king and his suit. Naturally
the storm put stop to the festivities usually
offered by summer gardens and mt picnic
resorts, and the propretors of the same
noted the deluge with regret. At
DRIVERS, ABNER's AND OTHER PLACES
where the musicians assembled before the
storm set in, the scenes were particularly
interesting. The first clap Of thunder and
initiatory scattering of the food sent the
musicians scurrying to cover, and they re-
manned silent spectators Of the storm-kings
battle outside. At the Schuetzen Park, rs
stated more in detail further on, there was
u suspension of fun and frolic, and the audi
ence ut the Theatre Comique was tempo
rarilv thrown into state of c@mmotion by
the sudden cxtinguishment of the lights,
the rafting among the scenery and Hopping
of the canvass covers ad0rning each side OF
the auditorium. The Pension Office, City
Hall, Masonic Temple and other places
were either unrOOfcd, or partially so, and
trees, trcc-bOxes, awnings and sign-boards
wHIRLED THROUGH THE AIR LIKE CHAFF
on gusty day in March. 1t was IL storm
that will be remembered for many days, and
Vennor, or whoever is responsible for its
coming, was to-day cursed, denounced and
rated with vchemcnce that the ordinary
man would consider frightfnl.
THE INCIDENTS OF THE STORM,
described further on, show that even
though it was terrible and ruthless, it WAS
not unattended by humorous occurrences.
For instance, the wandering wayfarcr who
vcntured out after the storm was over
could not get IL milk-punch for love nor
money. The thunder had turned the milk
sour. The spectacle presented ut the Re-
publican office when the employees attempted
toswim out, was funny particularly when the
city editor dived down through the speaking
tube to the business office to get car fare to
go out and work up the storm. In more
than one instance did the lynx-like reporter
trousers rolled up aiding their husbands in
baling water from their Easements and din
ing-rooms, and it was not an unusual occur
renee to heara hOuse-Owncr or tenant swear
because the chimney had abdicatcd. Bnt
the details further on will prove more in
teresting.
DAMAGE TO THE CITY HALL.
The main building of the City Hall was
almost completely uncovered. The first
80 IS ,.,L; ,I,
tected by heavy stone coping, but the back
or north side projected over the wall Here
the wind played with its greatest force.
The result was that the roof was raised up
and carried down Four-and-half street.
The heavy rafters and coping stones We're
also blown off in spots. Several OF the for
mer, some twelve inches square and fifteen
or twenty feet in length, were thrown to
the south area of the bhiding. The stones
were prcciptatcd through to the building
below in several places. One heavy timber
was hurled, as if from cannon, against the
house of Mr.. John A. Baker, and now re-
mains sticking upright in the roof.
The wind and rain entered freely at the
uncovered places and soon the inside of tho
various rooms was flooded, in some places
nearly a foot deep. The Recorders office
was fortunately, not visited by the water
The wind, however, blew down the plaster.
ing from the ceiling in the main office, and
the ladies' coIying room was partially
flooded. No damage was suffered by the
record books or deeds filed. The clerks Of
fees were also exempted from serious injury
as far as the records were concerned. AT
the other end Of the building the
Register of Wills Office was very
badly damaged. The water entered
freely at several points in the ceiling. In
the room at the entrance to the fre-prooi
vault two large coping stones had fallen
through, making clean breach. Here, as
at the east wing, the records were safe
Most of these are kept in the vault. and
water remarkable circumstance, consider,
ing the amount of water in the rooms
These offices have only recently been hand.
somely refumished and decorated the
former at Col Wcbster's own expense
Architect Clark inspected the building after
the storm and took what measures were ne
cessary TO stop the further damage To-day
large force of workmen were set at work
repairing the damage, which will be over
5000.
An attache of the Republican was in an
+ street car (No. 36), directly in front OF
the monument facing the City Hall, when
the storm struck that building. The occi.
sional flashes of vivid lightning showed the
car to be in sea of mud, while the debri,
flying around the pelting hail-stones, the
terrified horse, frightened passengers, and
heroic driver, who stood manfully by his
animal, made, as the reporter says, u never
to-be-forgotten scene. The ear was com,
PEELED to stop and take the brunt of the
pitiless storm, which drcnchcd the passen.
gers.
THE REPUBLICAN" OFFICE.
The Republican this morning thus de-
scribes the scene at that Office: "rhe eXpe.
ricnccs of the storm We're of character t.
give the attaches of this valuable journal
realizing sense of its violence. At the first
outburst the windows of the city editor
room were blown open, the glass smashed
the gas put out, and the driving rain cam,
pouring in, giving everything Il free bath
After frantically rushing to the windows an,
securing them, the lonely attache who wa
on duty in that department fumbled roun'
until he found the stop-cock to the gas, 50 a
to prevent its further escape, and just as h
had succeeded in turning of the gas tn
windows again blew open, having been tor
fiom their fastenings by the violence Of th
wind. A friend had fortunately entered
and while the scribe held one window ias
he pressed the visitor into service to do tn
same by the other There these two stood
each braced against window, getting
free admission to the glorious heavenl
fireworks outside during the extrem
severity of the storm. The rain and ha
pelted the TIN roof overhead and the rack,
was increased by the crash of two chimney
which fell, frightening nearly every con
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