The morning call., 1890-12-04
RAIN AND GALES.
A Heavy DOwnpOur Comes With
Terrific Storms.
An Unprecedented Preciptation-The Charles
ton and Ships Bar-Bound-Acc;-
dents and Incidents

Like a blessing from heaven the rain of
Tuesday night and yesterday fell upon the
thirs:ing land and over the city's streets.
The volume and rate Of the downpour was
more than the most sanguine of weather
prophets hoped to see in so many hours.
And though the rains were accompanied by
terrific wind-storm, the damage to city
property and throughout the State was
small in comparison with the great good
done.
A few small houses were upturned, some
old sewers choked and burst, shipping was
disturbed, electric wires in town and coun-
try destroyed, but the parched fields and
pastures were quickened into new life, and
the noisome gases and deleterouS matter
of the citys sewers and streets washed
away, and the atmosphere freshened by the
purifying elements.
The Superintendent OF Streets had been
considerably badgered over his failure to
flush all the sewers to prevent the spread of
diptheria, scarlet fever and other contagious
diseases. The rainfall of the last twesty-
four hours has relieved him of great respon-
sibility. No flushing of sewers" he
said, by artificial means can compare with
that accomplished by the rain. The choked-
up sewers did not admit of a sufficient es-
cape for the assault made upon them by the
great volume of water, and in consequence
many street crossings were Hooded
TRADE INFLUNCED.
The influence of the advent of the storm
was felt by the tradesmen, ana there was a
considerable falling off in sales. This Is
splendid weather." said one, but | hope it
viii not last too long, and interfere with our
Christmas holiday trade" The umbrella
hendS were out in full force, and made large
sales OF their wares on the leading streets.
GossomeIs were taken out of the closet to
allow the rain to wash off the dust accumu-
lated during the last SIX months.
W hat struck the stranger as NEST peculiar
was TO see on the principal corners of down.
town streets tiower-venders Offering for sale
the choicest cuttings of the garden. In spite
OF the rain and wind these pedGlers kept
ness. men and women buying their bouquets
OF roses, vinlets, chrysanthemumS and pinkS
to take home to warm Preside.
The storm, which seemed tn have ragged its
1lercest from midnight Tuesday until early
the next morning, did considerable damage
to the telegraph and telephone wires OF the
city. At one time the wind blew almost a
hurricane. There also seemed to be con-
siderable electric disturbance in the sky
Whatever was the cause many of the tee-
graph lines were out of order. A gentleman
In the afternoon yesterday visited seven
different stores on kearny street having
telephones, and each one was out of order
He also tried to have messenger rung up
by means of the district box, but failed to
make the desired communication. The lay
Ing down OF the wires is attributed more TO
the electrical disturbance than to the velo-
city Of the wind or the violence of the storm
In the Western Addition and in the Mis-
sion number of fences and sheds we're
blown down, but no serious disasters in
this line were reported. On many of the
streets awnings were torn hy the force of
the wind and insecure signs and placards
blown aWay