Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-15
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE.
The severest storm Ever Known in East
ern Vermont

The severest storm of wind, rain and
hail ever known in CALEDONIA county and
probably in all Vermont, visited st. Johns
bury Wednesday, June 6, doing damage
to the extent of many thousands of dollars
AT first there we've vivid flashes of light
ming and heavy peals of thunder and the
rain fell in torrents. Suddenly the rain
changed to hail, which fell for about five
minutes and then the rain again came in
Hoods, In another five minutes the fury
of the storm was over. The total dura-
ton was not over Il minutes. Thomas
Ward and the Carrick Bros granite com
pany suffered more severely than all
others third of the tin roof on Mr.,
Wards block was torn off by the
wind and carried $50 feet. This
left half the block exposed to the
Jury Of the ram and 1t poured in
in great volume, soaking down through
ceilings aud floors The damage TO the
roof and to the interior of the building
must aggregate several thousand dollars.
The cyclone then seemed to leap upon
the Carrck Bros Granite cOmpany's prop
elty, brushing off chimney or two on its
way. More than half of the roof on the
north side Of the Carrcks's new building
was torn off and the old buildings just
north were crushed TO the ground. A shed
N''F' Pip9blhpth anu lut!t WtIt StNtldl
narrow escapes of employees. In the I'M
rooted part of the new building Jones &
Shields had large stock of furniture,
which was badly wet and much of it was
completely ruined.
+. c. Spencer lost one OF his
Ost every pane of glass in his sky
light and also in the printing window,
The interior of the house was consider
ably damaged and his loss will probably
foot up three or four hundred dollars.
Mesers. Cooper & Dlckerman's skvlight
was also destroyed, entalliug considerable
loss Richard : blacksmith shop. on Port
laud street just beyond the railroad track,
was blown flat to the ground.
Great number of trees were
blown down all arodDd town. The wind
seemed TO leap over the hill aud fall with
tremendous force upon Railroad street.
The amount Of rain That fell was amazing,
especial y when the brief duration of the
storm Is con-idered All the streets were
Hooded ana Eastern avenue aud Railroad
street near heir junction were turned
luto rivers. From curb to curb, there was
q roaring Hood, ON which hJated pianks
and boxes and debris of every sort and
Kind. Village gardens suffered severely,
and many au ambitious gardener came TO
grIct.
The path of the storm was from west to
east, ana it covered but small territory
in width At Lyndon there was merely
an ordinary shower and 10 the south tine
storm was by no means severe. The
starring point of the cyclone was some.
where IN the town of Walden, where
trouble began the cyclone carried things
with nigh haud from there to st. Johns
bhry. All along its track wild havoc was
wrought. Many of the fences were pros
tlated aud host of trees blown down and
the cyclone left traces of its visit IN
all ui'eclons Fortunately, there is nc
report OF any damage to buildings In
Summerville Deans bone mill WAS blown
down and an ice wagon was blown over
aud its driver severely injured. Any mum
Der OF trees were Frustrated, II in the
space of a few rods along the bank of the
river. Waterford received dose that was
by 10 means hOmp Jpathic. Numberless
panes of glass were broken, numerous
sheds were blown down, and trees were
felled In ali directions, the roads being
completely blocked in scores of places auC
requiring good deal of hard work to cleal
them