Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-19
A DAMAGING STORM.
HOUSES uSRoorEp, TREES uRRoorED,
AND CROPS SCATTERED.
Three Hoases Damaged at Eiekstord-An
Engine Disehed-Perscnal. Political,
ard News Notes.
Icorresp0ndence q lAo RlshmOnd DlsDaicA.l

Correspondence OK The hchmond Dispatchl
PgrERsRrga, VA. Deccmberis, 1888
The storm last nieht was one OF unusual
severity throughout this section, and in
some localities caused considerable damage.
There Vas a heavy fsll OF rain, accomps-
MED At times With bail. Trees were ielled,
fences prostrsied. and houses were dam.
aged. 1be most serious injury reported
this morning was ct Hicksiord, In Gresnes-
willie county, where the storm, coming from
the south. struck abou, q O'Clock. Its force
was 80 great ~ TO cause much alarm. The
store and dwelling. house Of Mr. w. T.. Bal
lev was unroofed aud swept away. Mr.
Bailey is the proprietor OF one Of the
brgcst stores in the village, aud his stock
III goods Il valued AZ fully $4,000.
The drugstore OF DE-. Mason and the gene
raj merchandise store OF Palmer & Brother,
"a the same village, were also unrooied and
left EXPOSED 10 the effects Of the elements.
Mr.. Bailey arrived here early this morning
and promptly engaged workmen TO 90 out TO
Hlcksfofd snd repair the damages caused by
the storm. He returned on the FIRST train
with several men aud supplies. The tele-
graph poles and wires sc that point were
blown down, and communication could net
be restored until late in the day.
In Petersburg, while the Wind was very
slight. Some fences were Frustrated and
several houses somewhat injured. The storm
seemed % have passed east Of this city.
Farmers from Sussex and Prince George
counties rtp0ri the wind ~ very severe.
Trees were upr0oted, fences blown away, and
corn aud pcanui.stack scattered over the
fields.
Passengers who came In last night on the
train from Norfolk report a lively time
along the road. The train, which was due
here NJ : O'Clock, did not arrive until about
three hours later. Trees were blown across
the track at points this side OF Iuni, with
one or more OF which distractions the train
collided. The engine lost It's pilot and head
light in consequence, and was compelled to
proceed very slowly ~ a measure OF safety.
A lamp was substituted In place OF the
headlight. At one point, near Dispu.
tanta, fully twenty minutes was consumed
In cutting away q large tree which had fallen
across the track. The windows Of one OF
the passencer-cars were shattered by the
branches 81 one OF these trees. A gentle
man who was q passenger on the train says
thqi be had Just left his seat in one OF the
cars 20 make up whist party with some
friends when the window-glasses near him
were crushed to splinters by the branches OF
fallen tree. lie considered that he made
narrow csc1pe from injury.
on the Atlantic and Danvile railroad,
short distance from Waverly, 1t is reported
that nm engine and car were thrown from the
trsck and ditchcd by collision with fallen
tree. What other injuries, II any, msy have
occurred olong this road have not vet been
reported.
Tho mention OF the name OF Mr.. +. c.
Venable, Of this city, as the probable Success
IL L H.. gbof of
the Democratic State Committee meets with
hearty concurrence here.
Since the completion OF the railroad from
this city 20 the Central Asylum, in Dinwid'
die county, The visitors to that institution
have been so numerous that 1t has become
necessary 10 curiai admission 70 the asylum
building, and very properly so, as otherwise
10 would be Overrun.
The river al this point IL quite high, aud
has been rising all day. The water now IL
nearly on a level with the wharyes.
The tobacco receipts are increasing with
each day. and the prices realized maintain
the reputation Of Petersburg as the best mar
ket In the state.
FURTHER PARTICULARS or TIE STORM.
A letter from Greenesyillc county. received
Tonight, SAYS that the storm which struck
IliCksford last evening covered a width OF
about halls mile, and was the seyerest known
there for many years. Nearly all the build
lng- in what il known az the Phoenix block
Tn the village, which seemed 10 he In
the path Of the storm, were unrOoied
This block embraced the stores OF W.
T.. Bailey, George ". Goary, Henry
schwartz, and Farmer Brothers, and Or.
Edmund Mason. Fortunately there was but
little rain at the time, else the damage by
x.afer voutJ have leOn very heavy. The
loss sustained will only amount TO the ex-
pense Of replacing thel roofs, which will be
about $1,000.
Several other citizens Of the village sus-
tanned slight losses. aud there were several
narrow escapes from injury from falling
dfJTiS. Another severe blow passed over
the village about O'Clock this morning, but
DO material damage was done.
ROBIN ADAIR.