Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-10

RAIN, WIND AND LIGHTNING
MAKE LIVELY WORK.

l.esidence and PIsys HavOc-In'
RIecaric Light Works and Nsachiuerl
Damaged-The Streets Flooded apo
Many Houses Inundated.
Last nights thunder storm was tho
most severe that has visited savannah
this year. The temperature rose TO 80 m
the afternoon, but just before the storm
which began little before O'clock-i'
fell several degrees. The wind which was
southwest in the morning, backed around
by south and east To north. The barome-
ter also showed disturbance, rising aud
falling at short intervals. There were
two storm clouds in the afternoon.
The first one that struck the city
came from the southeast; the
other. which was half an hour or
more later, came down the river or from
Carolina. Sergt. Emery, OF the Signal
Bureau, observed "a ather singular phe-
nomena as the first cloud was approach
ing nom the southeast. In its path u
bow stretched across, showing plainly
the prismatic cOlOrs. Below it. was a
glare resembling "a bOrealis. The rain
fell in torrents aud sidewalks We're
flooded. Only four or i've Of the lightning
flashes were near enough TO be dangerous.
For while though the telephone and
telegraph wires were heavily charged
with the elecric fluid.
The telephones emitted a few heavy
sparks that snapped like a pistol
snot and startled those who were
sitting near the trausmitters. Dur
ing the heaviest part Gt the storm The
residence OF DR.. r. Schwiereu, No. 1873
Barnard street, was struck by lightning.
Toe bolt shattered the chimney on the
north side of the house, and, passing
down the fiue TO the second floor, entered
the parlOrs, hurting the fender and CRATE
across the room, ripping up the carpet
and damaging The furniture. DR..
Schwieren was on the floor above the par
Tors and felt the force Of the shock
severely. Mrs. Sonwieren and daugh-
ters were in an adjoining
room, and although they escaped
uninjured were Tor a moment stunned.
No traces OF the lightning could be seen
elsewhere Ia the house, aud it PROBABLY
was conducted to tue earth. a number OF
bricks were knocked OF au adjoining
house, probably by the same bolt.
The second cloud in the afternoon was
Of inky blackuess, aud a heavy TALL Of
rain came out OF il. In the afternoon
more than three-iourths OF an inch Of
water fell. The total rainfall during the
day was 2.O2 inches.
The wind blew in the city at the rate Of
"a miles al hour AT Tybee at 6 o'clock
IT was blowing at the rate Of IS miles an
hour. The telegraph wires we're blown
down and communication was shut of.
BY O'Clock the rain ceased for nearly
an hour. Towards the clouds came up
again. The wind blew even harder than
in the afternoon, and soon the rain began
again. For a few minutes . poured down
in a deluge, soaking pedestrians almost
before they could step into neiehboring
doOrways. Sharp cracks OF thunder and
Of HftrNf l,fN
upon another almost necessarily. At
times the whole heavens were ablaZe.
The atmosphere was filled with electric
lty. The high iron towers OF the electric
company were the most prominent OBJ
Jects, and about some OF them forked
flashes played, dimming and finally eX-
tingulshing the electric lights.
Early in the storm a heavy bolt struck
the tower ia Monterey square and some
other one the same moment. Instantly a
ball Of fire flashed over the wires and
into the electric light works. near the
foot Of West Broad street. Both dlals
that regulate the dynamOs were burned
out, and the next instant the lights were
out in the works and all over the city.
Sparks flew from the wires, producing a
cracking like the irregular but
of musketry. The engines were hastily
stopped and work was begun at repair
ing the dials. The dynamo which lights
the eastern section Of the city was
speedily put in order, ana within an hour
and half all OF the lights were burning
as usual.
A few minutes after the tower in Mon
terey square was struck, the mast at the
corner Of Liberty and Whitaker streets
was also struck. MI. John Gay, an en-
ploye Of the Central Railroad, was stand
Ing under the awning IN front of Vests
grocery store, short distance away, and
was thrown several feet by the force Of
the shock.
In the telephone exchange business
Was temporarily suspended. One of
the operators described the
scene as like continuous
discharge Of fire crackers. The new wires
were not damaged. What damage was
done TO the old call wires is not known, as
The business houses had all closed before
the storm came up. The scene in the
Western Union telegraph Office was al
most as thrilling as in the telephone ex-
change. No damage TO wires was re-
ported, and after the storm passed over
and the electric disturbance ceased, bust
ness was handled without delay.
There was considerable damage by flood
iuc all over the city. The sewers were
taxed to carry of the surface drainage.
The floor In the Market basement was
covered WIN water. n number OF private
residences were damaged, and The streets
were washed in many places so that they
Will require regarding. The jefferson
street sewer cayed IN in pumher of
places, and was considerably damaged
The street and lane forces viii have plen-
" Of work to-day. The police reported "a
number Of easements Of residences in the
lower part OF the city filled with water.
The rain extended in an directions
around the city. AT Isle Of Hope IL TELL
in torrents. The st. Johns 4. A. b.
Society picnic, which was held there, was
seriously luteriered with. Between eight
hundred and nine hundred people were
IN attendance, and We're forced 20 seek
shelter in the payilons and cottages.
The incoming trains were loaded and
brought the greater part az the crowd IN
before the last storm came no.
The last train Arrived about q o'clock.
The cars on the street lines we're In readi.
ness az the Anderson street depot and
were tested % their capacity to carry Tic
disappointed bgt gO0Inalufed crowds 70
their homes.
DioI from ~unstfoiss.
Leouora pJtupm, Gn OF colorcd woman,
was TIE fret victim Of bunstroke reported
in The city tlis year. she was about 90