Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-24
THE WIND ON A FR0LIC.
A Sabbath Blow That Knocks Things
Dizzy About Salt Lake.
Bricks Fly, Trees are UprOoted ana
Railroad Cars Blown Over.
The Oldest Inhabitant Declares 1t the
Hardest Blow That Ever Struck
Zion.

Salt Lake valley was visited at O'Clock
last evening with one of the most sudden
and terrific wind storms ever seen IN this
vicinity. Its coming was advertised by
the gathering of heavy dark clouds IN the
northwest and frequent claps OF rolling
thunder. The streets at the time were
lined with carriages returning at full
speed from the Fort and different resorts
outside the city, and by the time the gale
struck the town nearly everyone was
housed with closed doors and windows.
The storm lasted about thirty minutes,
during which time the rain fell plenti-
fully and the wind played wild havoc
with rickety buildings, loose lumber,
shade and fruit trees, window lights,
chimneys, railroad stock, churches, tele-
phone wires and awnings.
An hours drive about the city last
evening showed a dozen large shade
trees lying low in the Sixteenth ward,
and men were busy chopping them away
during the night The same state of
affairs was exhibited in the Twentieth,
Ninth and various other wards OF the
city. Most of the tall trees were com
pletely uprooted and thrown across tele-
phone wires, car tracks or sidewalks and
fences. The orchards were greatly
damaged, and the ground covered in
places with half-ripened fruit, which
must be reckoned a great loss. Trees
were torn up by the roots and split to
pieces. In front of the Twelfth Ward
meeting house, one by Gebhardts, an
other in front of the Liberal Institute, one
on the corner of Third South and Second
West, and SO throughout the forrest city
of the West. Tops OF poplars, and small
twigs were snapped off like brittle pipe
stems, and strewn about the streets. A
great deal of damage was done to the Bell
| telephone wires.
In front of the block on which DR..
Hamilton resides, a large tree fell across
the wires and Frustrated them. The
same injury exists in many places about
the town, but no harm came to the
Ogden. Park City and other outleading
| lines so far as learned Mr. Annett has
large force OF men at work to-day put
ting everything in shape, so that the sub
scribers will feel but little inconvenience
from the unavoidable mishap.
The top of Madsen's hardware store
was torn away and replaced this morning
Mr.. Van Horn lost his given name, which
was placed for the use of the public on
his store sign. Any one finding Henry
will please return him to Mr. Van Horn.
All about town window lights and other
frail material were rather roughly handled
by the hurricane. A number OF lights OF
glass were smashed out of the Baptist
1 rh,,roh oil ho of
Marks
At Camp Douglas the zephyr had
somewhat spent its violence, but moi
enough to pass the Post trader unnoticed.
1t struck his quarters and took sash
lights and all out of the house, and Jack
says the last he saw of the breeze it was
throwing sand and gravel i'll its course III
Emigration canyon.
At the d. & r. G. depot several carr
were turned over with which the incom
ing Bingham special collided. The lake
bathing train was stopped several times
on account of the force OF the wind
Parties up City Creek, Parley's and the
Cottonwoods, took reef in their canvas
tops, and headed for home. From dusk
till early morning wagon loads O
drenched and shivering campers contin
ued to arrive in the city, looking more
like wandering refugees in search o
shelter and something to eat than the
jolly ones they were in starting out.
Several laughable things occurred OF
Main street during the blow which are
told to-day by eye-witnesses. Hats were
used for kites, umbrellas turned wrong
side out in the twinkling of an eye, anc
two ladies sought safety by sitting dowr
on the curbstone, while others screamed
and ran into the nearest retreat from the
rude winds. No broken bones nor severe
accident occurred, although number O.
persons are ready to make affidavit that
they felt a slight earthquake and thought
at the time of all the church predictions
recorded for these latter DAYS.