Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-22
EIGHTY.TWO NILES AN H0Ua.

Jupr,csaenied storm OF the Pacific Coast
Grent Ds,as,s,on ALONG IT. Track.
lBy telegraph 10 the Dispateh.l
SAN FRANCISCO, January 20.--One
Of the severest storms that has ever oc-
Cured on this coast began on Sunday
and reached its height shortly after Boon
to-day. 1t extended from the northern
boundary Of Washington Territory to
the southern boundary Of California,
and from the Rocky mountains TO the
Pacific ocean. There was an almost
continuous fall Of rain and snow, &C
companied by wind, which from FIVE
miles an hour gradually increased.
until about 100 o'clock this afternoon
when it blew cighty-two miles an
hour. The storm was predicted
by the signal-seryice. and the caution
airy storm.signal was displayed by or
der Of Lieutenant Glassford from tho
flagstaff of the Merchants Exchange
building. Owing to this timely notice
many vessels remained III port, and
thus escaped the fury Of the storm.
Although the bay inside the harbor
was very rough, passengers on ferry
boats being made sea.sick. the shipping
did not suffer. Considerable damage,
however, was done throughout
the city by the wind and rain.
Houses were unrooted, sheds,
fences, trees, awnings, signs, church
spires, and many smoke-Stscks were
blown down. Huge plste.glass win
dows were shattered. Easements flooded,
and shutters broken. Cars were lifted
from their tracks by the force Of the
wind. and covered wagon was caught
up and carried some distance. No loss
of life. however. has been reported.
When the wind was at its height the
west wall OF the Mechanics Pavilion
was blown in, and a few minutes after
about eighty feet of the roof Of the
building was carried across the street,
damaging buildings on the opposite
side. The damage to the pavilion
amounts to several thousand dollars.
One of the most unfortunate disasters
caused by the storm was the collapse
of two.stOry building at Mission and
Thirtieth streets. At the time Of the
collapse Mrs. Anne HWlbeyt, Miss
Coyle. and John Carroll were in the
building. Carroll escaped, but tho
women were buried under the falling
walls and severely, perhaps fatally, iu-
h. al
the storm was TO cut oil San Frau
cisco entirely, for the FIRST time
in its history from Geographic COM
munication with the outside world.
Wires began going down yester-
day. one after another until the
| final break occurred about 1890 this
afternoon. For short time the city
wires were rendered useless. A large
force of men was put to work repair
ing them, but up to midnight last night
no connection had been made. This
dispatch is sent from here by mail to
Sacramento, whence it will be forward
ed to its destination. Washouts have
occurred on the Southern Pacific road
at several places between Mojaye and
Yuma. They are not considered ssri.
Gus. and the road will be repaired in
three or four days at the fdrthest.
Exact information cannot be obtained.
Little or no delay has occurred on the
Central Pacific, although there has been
snowfall between Truckee. Cal, aud
Reno, New. No information as to the
damage sustained by shipping along
the coast and by other portions Of the
country has been received owing to the
lack of wire communication.