The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-14
LOCAL MATTERS.
A Welcome Visitor.

A Welcome Visitor.
| A HOT FORENOON; A GREAT STORM OF DUST
AND DIRT, FOLLOWED BY HALF HOURS
HEAVY RAIN-sOME DAMAGE DONE TO ROOPs,
CHIMNEYs, AND TREES.
At G O'Clock yesterday morning the Dis
patch thermometer Indicated $40; at II
wSs 90, and at noon 1919. The heat was
almost unbesrable, aud the little breeze
stirring was like a hot air blast. The few
people who have managed 10 keep mode
rately cool sll the summer were al last
forced TO admit that this was something
more than they could comfortably endure.
At O'Clock the temperature had reached
1929, and clouds began to rise, and all the
signs Of a violent thunderstorm appeared.
About the wind grew into gale from the
west, and the air was filled with the dust
and sand raised from the streets, where it
had lain for weeks, each day being ground
finer aud finer.
On Main street at one time you could
not see the houses on the opposite side
the street-c2rs plowed their way through
the duSt-clouds like ships heading a black
storm; pedestrians sought the shelter OF
doorWsys, and doors and windows were
tightly closed against the perDicious In
truder.
At various exposed points shade-tree'
were blown down, the mulberries as usual
being the chief sufferers, and several houses
were damaged as 10 the roofing and chin
neys.
RAIN, RAIN, RAIN.
After this windy demonstration, which
was fairly comparable to smoon on the
desert, great fat rain.drops began splashing
upon the hot pavements and house'tops.
For a time there was a lively struggle for
supremacy between the rain and dust, and
amidst it all there were peas Of thunder
and some flashes of lightning. The dust,
however, was soon mastered, and great
streams filled the cutters, poured down the
roadways and swept off into the culver's
the accumulated dust and dirt of the weeks
OF drought.
WHAT A FALL, MT COCNTRYMEN.
From 1870 to 2:30 the temperature was
lowered 15o, though the rain was falling
scarcely more than bali an hour. But that
was not the only good effect. The work o'
clearing the sand from the Belgian blocks
on Main street, which the city refused, de-
cIined, or neglected to do, was done by the
wind-storm and rain; and 1t was done
quite well too. How much OF it was borne
into the culVerts, how much won't into open
areas and easements, bow much into peo'
ple's eyes. will never be known, nor is the
pursuit Of the inquiry desirable.
Brief as was the storm, its results Will be
70 remove for the present the necessity for
the public meeting, by which it was pro-
posed, or rather hoped, TO stir our noble
CITY authorities into action on the subject.
PARKS AND RIVER.
As for the dust. laden foliage in parks and
private Yards, it seemed to rejoice in the
relief that came TO It scarcely less than did
swetering humanity. True, it will take
davs OF rain to thoroughly refrcshen the
earth, but this first instament did ga great
deal of good"; as has sometimes been re-
marked IN local columns, "it was start In
the right direction"
Rain is not only needed hereabouts, but
I'm the up-cOuntry as well. The bare, red
dish rocks in the riyerbed seem pleading
for a return OF the stream which IS wont to
bury them out OF the way Of the suns fierce
rays.
The coolest inhabitant" is at this time
ont of the city, and we will not, therefore,
unadyisedly say that "the weather was
never hotter" or that "the river was never
lower But for the heat OF yesterday
| forenoon, it will hardly be disputed that 1t
was fearful; yes. really, It was fearful.
| TweHty-four bonIs of it would have been
| death to some and distressing to maHy.
SIGN BLOWN DOWN AND NAN INJURED.
During the storm the large wooden sign
OF A. Sieiani, on Broad street between
Eighth and Ninth, was blown down and
! struck a cOlOred man 10y the name OF Reu-
ben Johnson, telling him to the sidewalk.
Johnson was carried into the cigar-stOre OF
| &. G. S9lamOne in an insensible condition.
| He there received proper treatment, ana
when he was somewhat revived he was con-
yeyed 10 his home. Fortunately for john
son. the fall Of the sign was broken by pro-
jecting sign-irOns, or his injuries would
have been more serious.
DAMAGE DONE.
A little schooner at Rockets was cap
sized. but was soon rghted. A. 5. Lees
warehouse, on Dock street near the shin.
locks, was partially unroofed. The Pbila'
deIphia sheds suffered from tin blown of 1t.
A gentleman who was on board OF the tug
CraiobiH reports that the lightning was
playing aIOund the Brewery in dangerous
style. and one fash seemed to strike 1t.
There was a little damage done the Old
Dominion Steamship Company's sheds. On
Church Hill a considerable amount OF
fencing was levelled, and several houses
unroofed and otherwise damaged.
The barn OF Mr.. WHIT Smith, on tie
Broad. street road, about four miles above
the city, was set on fire by the lightning
and burned with all Of It's contents, consist
ing OF q large amount OF oats, hay, and sew
eral sets OF harness. Several trees were
also struck in the yard Of Mr.. Thomas
Johnston, Of the firm OF West, Johnston &
CO., who lives in the same neighborbood.
In the neighooThOOd OF Woodyiile, the
suburban farm OF Mr.. John B. Davis, con-
siderable damage was done by the wind.
Several houses were unroofed aud fences
and trees blown down. The damage to
proDerty on the Nine-Mile road is also said
10 haye been great. A gentleman was IN
his barn when the storm came up. TIE
building was overturned and he barely e'-
eaned with his life. Another gentleman
bad hfs eutire crop Of apples blown from
tbe trees. Indeed, reports from all parts OF
tbe city and surrounding country repre-
sent the storm as being one Of unusual
severity.
HENRIcO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The
Board of Supervisors OF Henrico county
met at The Courthouse yesterday and laid |
the following county levy for the ensuing |
vear CaDitation tax, SOC. go per cent. on |