The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-02-04
a SAN FRANCISCO STORM.
The Wind Blowing at the Rate of
SeVenty.twO Miles an Hour.

With the exception of O vigorous norther
which rasped the city about ten years ago,
the storm which has been sweeping over
San Francisco for the past three days, and
which eliminated in hurricane yesterday
noon is the most violent that has ever
been recorded here. There have been
other southern and southeastern gales, but
none to equal this in intensity, power and
mischievous effect. On sea and land the
wind ragged with fury that was surprising,
the rain swept the streets in torrents, travel
and telegraphic communication were effect
ually interrupted, there was danger to those
on shore, and still more to those atioat.
Fences were demolished all over the city.
San Francisco's few trees were seriously
diminished in numbers, vanes and archi-
tectural fligree-work were sorelY tried,
there was much damage done for the glaz-
Ter to remedy, the ordinary thoroughfares
were nearly deserted, and flying rumors
and hats alike filed the air. The sea ran
over the bar like a mill-race, there was
broken water from the Mission to Seal
Rock, and the craft that Yentured out to sea
was forced to turn back and seek shelter In
the haven of the bay.
The storm ragged from one end of the
State to the other. Especially does it seem
to have been violent In the mountain ranges
that serrate the southern and southeastern
DOfIlOQS q.
tons of track have been washed away,
bridges have been destroyed, wrecking
trains have been themselves wrecked, and
such destruction has been wrought that I'M
der the most favorable circumstances free
travel will not be resumed until the end of
the week.
At midnight on January 18th the storm
lines had stretched out so that they ex-
tended from Tatoosh island to San Diego,
with a wind velocity of forty-two miles an
hour at the mouth of the Columbia River
and twenty-eight an hour at Cotton The
barometer went down steadily all of 10Th,
reaching the exceptionally low point in San
Francisco of 20. and 1922 at Fort Candy.
All this time the storm had been moving
southerly, but on the evening OF 18th 1t
turned around with an angry rush and
began to move northward. At first it was
thought that this meant the clearing up,
but certain ugly signs began to manifest
themselves. The cautionary signal was
still kept flying, and the signal service an
nounced that q worse time yet was to come.
On the morning of Goth it did. The storm
doubled on its path, turned once more
southerly and cnme down along the coast
with unparalleled vehemence, which vehe-
mence increased, until at l o'clock P. NJ.
the wind blew seventy-two miles an hour at
Point Lobos, and San Francisco WAS rocking
and rafting under hurricane.
THE DAMAGE DONE.
A few vessels in the harbo1 got adrift
and some of the ferry boats ceased running,
the San Rafael being washed and damaged
by the waves. Signs, fences and trees
were carried away in all parts of the city.
North Beach was overfown from other dis
sricts. A large portion of the western wall
of The Mechanics Pavilion was blown in
and 100 feet of the roof carried away,
smashing adjoining houses South Park
garden was demolished. At the Potrero,
the Union Iron Works were unroofed and
the Rolling Mills flooded; steam tug was
lifted by a wave of the ways at the Iron