Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-24
CYCLONE SWEPT.
Washington BadI! Shaken Up
By Heavy Storm.
The White HOUSE Damissd BY lhs Kiad
But No Ono Injured.
One Death Reported-Seyeral Injured
And a Number Missing.

| WAsa,seros, Nov. GA Tremendous
Wind and rain storm amounting almost to
hurricane pssssd over this city about IL 80
P. NJ, doing . great deal Of damage. The
worst occurepce reported vas the blowing
down Of the walls Of the new Metze'eit
music hall in course Of construction on l2.h
stree: N. W just below street.
The street. Of the city were practically
| deserted 6. the time Of the scci lent and the
| hrst in,imation tie public had that there
~as any immediate re.ut Of the great
storm ~ when the dre alarm rung and
er eines, hook ard ladders and pstrSl
wagons went tearing up towards the corner
of l2 b sud F streets. Chief Paiis OF the
Gre department, and men went to work in
m -diaely to clear away the wreck and pre-
vert any danger Of Ere.
The bsck buildings Of half dozen stores
on street we're buried beneath the walls
of the fallen building. The Only way to
reach the worst of the trouble was through
the fronts Of the stores that face on l. street.
or scros. the great sea Of tangled beams
and sirders where the auditorium OF Music
hall vas to have been. The rear OF the Two
stores ITO AID lll2 st;eet WAS fouad to
be in q worst plight
The first Of these was occupied by George
White, ladies' tailor. the second by A. Guide
& Bro, fl lrist. The portions between the
two stores in the rear were demolished.
Inside all wa, wreck and ruin, the fronts
Of both building having been completely
blown cut b. the conclusion OF air from the
rear.
At fret i: was not thought that anyone
was buried beneath the wreck, but as soon
as the neighbors began to come in the ire
men and police men, who were working
hard removing the debris, learned that
when the walls fell a. least four people
were in the chop in The rear of Whites
store Tnere had been no warning OF the
i'm Del ndiag disaster aud she people did not
leave the room.
The workers renewed their efforts, and
after a few miouses labor Nth hooks and
croo ks sni CROW irs they brought to light
Clara Greenburg sewing girl. She was
near the frcnt and was soon taken into the
npen air. She was not seriously hurt.
She did not speak Eoglish very well, but
managed 10 say: "Bo:s and two girls still
inside "
At 80 Ida White sged 21. wss found.
She was badly bruised. AT 2 o'clock the
de ad body of Mr.. White was removed from
the wrecked building. The fact that it was
noon and most Of the men were away ct
lunch prevented q greater loss Of life. The
wsll Of the bulldog were at the most
vulnerable stage, the building having pro
gressed 30 that the rear wall was very high
and witho u the support TO be gained from
completion.
A section Of the stone balustrade around
The roof of the White House WAS blown
down and crushed through the roof Of the
porGco Of ,he eastern entrance OF the base
ment. A large number Of telegraph snd
telenbone wires conne cted with the roof st
the point of acc;den. we're carried down
with the mas Of stone, completely shutting
off all communication with the house by
wire.
The section destroy ed wss about 20 feet
long, composed Of free stoI e in blocks and
pillars, and in falling ta,r ed vi 1t large
portion of the corn.ce. II struck the roof
Of the east portico with terrific crash and
-reeked it completely
The noise caused quite commotion in
the PIE sidents household for few minutes,
but speedy investigation showed that no
one va, injured. The f,gstaf in front of
the bailding was cut in tso as neatly a.
though done vi h sknife.
The President wss It ceiving the Mime
sofa dele CATION at the time, and was sp-
pr;sed OF the storm by ihe rush of water
under the south window and the crush OF
the balustrace. He hastened to The private
part Of the house and reassured the ladies
Of the family.
Wioders building on l7th street, opposite
the wxr department, vas partially unro1
and the nuper fl ,ors delugsd with water.
During the storm lightning struck 3 large
gas reservoir on the corner Of 26sh AMI G
streets Long tongues of flames from rents
iu the top of The structure rose high in the
air.
Gss blazed at the openings and 100000
feet Of gas was thus cocsum:d The huge
casing OF the reservoir was twisted in all
manner Of shapes and the fragments OF the
iron columns were scattered IN all direc.
TORS The reservoir was pearly full and
the gas compsny's loss is $4,000; no in
surance.
When the ruins of Metzerett hall were
removed, it was found that Mr.. White was
the only person killed. The loss on this
and the adjoining buildings is $50. 900, and
the total lo,s, throughout the city and
vicinity, s250,o0o.