New-York tribune., 1886-01-22
GREAT STORM IN CALIFORNIA.
A HURRICANES WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO.

THE CITY CUT OFF FROM TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNI-
CATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
SAN Francisco, Jan. 20.-One of the sever
est storms that have occurred this began on
Sunday and reached height shortly after noon to-
day 1t extended from the northern boundary OF ASH
ngton Territory to the southern boundary OF California
and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ocean.
There was almost continuous fall OF rain aud snow
accompanied by wind which from Ave miles an hour
gradually Increased until about 130 p. m when 1t blew
hurricane OF eightytwo miles hour. Thesorm was
predicted by Signal Service and the cauonay storm
signal was displayed by order Of Lieutenant Giansford
from the flagstaff OF the Merchants Exchange Buding
Owing to this timely notice many vessels postpohed
their departure here and thus escaped the dangers
of tho Storm Although the bay Inside the harbOr,
rough ferryboas being made seaslck
the shipping suffered no damage
Considerable damage, however, was done through
out the city by wind and ram HOUSES
were unroofed, sheds. fences. trees, awnings
signs church spires and numerous smokestacks were
bio down huge plate-gass windows were Shattered
flooded and sewers broken Cars were lifted
from the tracks covered was caught up ana
carried some distance. No loss OF life, however, has
been reported About l:j0 p. m, when the winu was
at its height the wall of the Mechanics Pavilion
was blown in and few minutes later about eighty feet
of the roof the building blown across the street.
damaging buildings on the opposite side. Ih' damage
to the Pavilion amounts TO several thousand dollars
one OF unfortunate disasters was the collapse
OF twostory building at Mission and Thireth sta Al
the time OF the accident Mrs. Annie Humbert, MIS-
Coyle aud John Carroll were In the building. Carroll
succeeded in rushing from the honse In time 10 escape
HARM but both women buried under the falllhg
walls and were severely, and perhaps fatally injured
about the head.
Tie most serious result the to cut OF san
Francisco entirely the first time in its history from
telegraphic communication the outside world The
dnuv arla
until the final break occurred about 1890 this afternoon
For a short time tue city wires were rendered useless
large force OF Is engaged repairing the INES
but up to this midnight OF January 2O-no connec
ton with the outside been made Thistispatch Is
sent from by mail to sacramento. whence II VIII DO
forwarded to its destination.
Washouts have occurred the Southern Pacific road
t several place. between MoJaye aud Yuma They are
not considered serious and the road will be repaired In
three or four days at furthes Exact Information can
not be obtained Little delay has occurred on the
Central Pacific although there has been heavy snow
fall etween Irnckee Cal. and Reno New. No informa-
ton AS toho damage sustained by shipping along tho
coast and by other portions OF the country has been fe-
celyed owing TO the lack OF wire communication.
OGDEN. Utah. Jan. 21.-Hcavy rains have prevailed
west Of the Rocky Mountains since Tuesday, causing
snc serious washouts telegraphic communication
with California has been completely cut of since yester-
day morning The three routes, Northern Centra anu
Southern which tho Western Union Telegraph Company
mas always had available all down. West OF Reno.
Nevada thirty miles OF wires aud poles are down. aud
the Central Pacific railroads sustained several bad wash
outs which prevented their sending trains west OF Reno
last night. Telegraphic communication with Oregon
has beer maintained the east, but the wires be-
tween Oregon and California havo been down, prevent
ing ispatches by that route.