The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-01-23
ANGRY ELEMENTS.
Fearful and Extensive Storm
on the Pacific Coast.
WIND AMP WAITER
Plav Sad Havoo-San Francisco
1solated from the Rest Of the ::
World-Meager Reaorts.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 21.-One of the
s~everest storms that has ever occurred or
this coast began Sunday and reached it's
height shortly after noon to-day. 1t ex-
tended from the northern boundary OF
Washington Territory to the southern
boundary OF California, and from the
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ocean. An
almost continued fall Of rain and snow was
accompanied by wind which. from five
miles an hour, gradually increased until
about 1:3O this afternoon, when it blew
q hurricane of e~ighty-two miles an hour.
The storm was predicted by the Signal
Service. and cautionary storm signals
were displayed by order OF Lieut.. Glass
ford from the flagstaff at the Merchants
Exchange building. Owing to this timely
notice many vessels postponed their de-
parture from here, and thus escaped the
dangers OF the storm. Although the bay
inside of the harbor was very
rough and passengers on the ferry
boats were made seasick, the shipping
suffered no damage. Considerabledamage,
however, was done throughout the city
by the wind and rain. Houses were I'M
OOICO, ohCuos ACiSOos CAOVcs g.
church spires, miDarcts and smoke stacks
were blown down. Huge plate windows
were blown in, Easements flooded, sewers
broken, cars were lifted from the tracks
and covered wagons caught up. No loss
of life has been reported. About 1:30
when the wind was at it's height, the west
wall OF the Mechanics pavilion was blown
in and q few minutes later about eighty
feet of it's roof was carried across the
street and damaged the buildings on the
opposite side. The damage done the
pavilion amounts to several thousand
dollars. One of the most unfortunate dis
asters caused by the storm was the collapse
of a two-story building at the corner OF
Mission and Thirtieth streets. At the
time OF the accident, Miss Annie Humbert,
Miss Coyle, and John Carroll were
in the building. The latter rushed
from the building in time to
escape harm, but the women
we're buried under the falling building and
were severely perhaps fatally injured about
the head. The most serious result OF the
storm was to cut OH San Francisco entirely
for the first time in it's history from te'e-
world. The wires began getting down yes
terday, one after another, until the final
break occurred about 1890 this afternoon
and for q short time even the city wires
were rendered useless. An army Of men
are now engaged in repairing the line but
up to this time, midnight of January goth,
no connection with the outside world has
been made This dispatch is sent from
here by mail to Sacramento by the cour
tesy OF the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, whence it is forwarded to it's desti-
nation. Washouts v occurred on the
Southern Pacific Road as several places be-
twoon Milo ~ q and Vur,a which 70 NOT
considered serious and which will be re-
paired in three or four days at the longest
Exact information cannot be obtained,
but little or no delay has occurred on the
Central Pacific Railroad, although a heavy
snowfall occurred between Truckee, Colo
RADIO, and Reno, Nevada. No information
as to the damage sustained by shipping
along the coast and other portions of the
country has been received owing to it's iso-
lation from wire communication.
REPAIRING THE DAMAGE.
Telegraphlc communication, which was
entirely interrupted yesterday by the
storm, was partially resumed about 1890
this morning. The situation has continued
to improve. and tonight there is an excel
lent prospect OF all points soon again being
brought into telegraphic commu-
nication with San Francisco. A large
force OF men are busy repairing
breaks on the Southern Pacific Railway,
which is reported in good working order as
far south as Lancaster. Between there and
New Hall, a distance of forty miles, moth
ing can be learned of it's condition as the
wires are down. The most serious results
are believed to have occurred there. From
Newhall to Yuma the road is reported in
working order. and all repairs are expected
~ he completed in about five
days. dispatches from the interior
points OF the State received to-day,
report the storm was not felt there as
severely as here, though at many places
tree s. lences, etc. were FRUSTRATED, and ina
few instances houses were unrOo fed.