The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-28
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Thursday, July %. 1881.
FURIOUS JULY STORM.

and familiar ~0-l> of the first Adam:
Is it warm enough for you todAy?' The
morning was cloudy. At O'Clock the
humidity was $50; the temperature was
$50 in the shade. By II o'clock the
mercury bad touched 76', and the sun
was blazing down upon q sweltering
city. At 3 o'clock, the hottest time in
the day. the sun seemed TO be thor
oughly warmed up to its work, and the
thermometer registered $50. The OPP
pressiveness of the atmosphere, more
than the beat, made the day the most
unpleasant of the season. The streets
were deserted on the sunny side, and
almost 30 in the shade, in many parts
Of the city. Especially trying was the
heat to the stage drivers on their lofty
seats and the lsborers on the numerous
new buildings now going up. Work
men went slowly about their tasks, and
rested often. Many of them were COM
PEELED to quit work. There were sew
ersl casese Of prostration by the heat.
During most of the day the wind
blew ct the rate Of about seven miles
On hour from the west. At o'clock it
quickly brought into view over the
western horizon large black cloud
and spread il over the city. Without
much ado the rain began to fall. and for
twenty minutes the shower was severe.
After the first skurry for protecting
doorways, the streets were cleared of
people. and the rain fell in torrents.
The effect was quickly perceptible in
the cooler air. Inc shower was accom-
panied by heavy thunder aud sharp
flashes OF lightning. Over the upper
bay the storm was witnessed to the
best advantage by the spectators under
the trees of the Battery Park. The
black cloud spread out and burst, and
the flood which fell obscured Cover
nor's Island and the vessels beyond.
The lightning she. down in flashes.
accompanied by the report from The
clouds.
In the course OF the storm q fash Of
lightning came down the telephone
wire into the Sun Office aud shot in q
dazzling blue irregular line across an
end OF the room to the wires connected
with the telegraph instruments. The
blue flash twinkled for an instant and
escaped by the wires running past an
open window beyond. 1t was plainly
visible to the men in the office. and was
accompanied by loud, cracking re-
port.
During the funeral services yesterday
in the Evangelical Church at Green
vile, for Wolfgang Stoecel, promin-
ent member of the Knights of Pythias,
thunderbolt fell within q few feet OF
the building and shook it to its founda-
ton. A panic ensued in the church.
Many ladies tainted, and those who re-
tanned their senses rushed for the door.
Another bolt struck the pole OF one OF
the carriages outside the church and
knocked the horses down. The horses
attached to the other carriages were
frightened and ran away. They were,
with difficulty, recaptured. The min
ister succeeded, finally, in restoring
order In the church, and the services
were finished.
The storm struck the western end of
Coney Island furiously. There had been
Q pleasant breeze from the sea during
the afternoon. and out from Sandy
Hook was visible slight mirage that
exhibited distant ships as if lifted from
the water. Suddenly the thunder
clouds came wbirling overhead with q
west wind that in Goment became q
hurricane. The sand of the beach filled
the cir. and one could not see three
yards in advance. Bathers in their
awkward suits were upset by the wind
90 they ran for shelter. Goats, hats
handkerohiefs. and other articles of
clothing sailed seward from the beach
and the piazZes. Then down came the
rain in torrents. Men battled with the
tempest with umbrellas turned inside
out; women chung to their skirts and
hats and screamed, and children cried
with terror. In minute all the piaz-
zas end hotel parlors and dining rooms
were filed with bedraggled. steam
ing. painting. stamping. and shouting
crowd. The wind and rain swished
and howled among the booths and CAM
vas tents. and bangl bangl went the
quick thunder peals as the lightning
struck right and left from the clouds.
The most exciting scsne was on the
new Brighton pier. A throng of men,
women and children was there listen
ing to the music and waiting for boat.
The hurricane almost swept the musi>
Clans from their seats, and, grabbing
their books and instruments, they ran
tor the shore. some losing their hats
and instrument bags. The workmen on
the unfinished roofs tumbled down the
quickest way they could. and their
coats and hats went whirling out to
ses. A big pills Of loose boards ON the
roof was lifted by the wind aud sent
flying like leaves. These boards made
. terrible rafting and roaring rs they
tumblsd upon the floor of the pier. and
people who had enongh to do to keep
their feet and hold their clothes on.
had to dodge fer their lives rs the
boards hustled past them with the
speed Of arrows. Quick cries and shouts
we're heard confusedly amid the roar
OF the storm and the sea. The rain
swept under the roof and across the
pier from end 10 end, and the wind was
80 furious that those who were on the
pier, and many Of whom feared a, every
instant that it would be lifted bodily
from its foundations and hurled into
the sea, could not force their way
against IL to reach the shore. They
were drenched with rain, and stood
hrddled In groups. hanging on posts
and piles OF heavy lumber for support.
Women cried and wrong their hands.
and man hraeed fharnsaluaa