Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-24
HkHS BI tLthkAPh. From All Quarters. STRUCK BY 4 CYCLONE. Destructive Storm at the
 National Capital. MURDERoUs RAIDS IN NORTH CHINA. Minneapolis Gets the Re- publican Convention. RESIGNATION OF DICTATOR FoNsEcA. Fires and a Water Famine
 in Brooklyn.
RESIGNATION OF DICTATOR FoNsEcA.
DESTRUCTIVE STORM.

in Brooklyn. DESTRUCTIVE STORM. | Ruin Wrought by Wind and Rain at Washtngton-Severa Buildings De- mOIished and UnrOofed-Four Per- sons Buried in Debris-Stone Coping Blown From the White House-Gas Resorvoir Struck by Lightning. WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-A tremendous wind and rain storm amounting almost to a hurricane passed over this city about 12:30 o'clock this afternoon, doing great deal of damage. The worst occurrence re- ported was the blowing down of the walls of the new Metezett music hall, in course of construction on Twelfth street, N. w., just below F street.
 The streets were practically deserted at the time of the accident, and the first inti- nation that the public had that there was any immediate result of the great storm was when the fire alarm was rung and the engines and hook and ladders and patrol wagons went tearing up toward the corner of Twelfth and F streets Chief Paris of the fire department and men went to work to clear away the wreck, and prevented any danger of fire.
 BUILDINGS IN A MASS OF RUINS.
 The task that confronted them was herculean one. The back buildings of half dozen stores on F street were hurled 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 F street or across the great sea of tangled beams and girders that are where the auditorium was to have been. The rear of the two stories No. 1110 and 1112 F street were found to be in the worst plight. The first of these was oc- cupied by George White, ladies' tailor, the second by A. Guide & Brother, florists The partitions between the two stores in the rear were demolished.
 SEVERAL PEOPLE BURIED IN THE DEBRIS
 Inside all was wreck and ruin, and the fronts of both buildings were completely blown out by the concussion of air from the rear. At first it was not thought that anyone was buried beneath the wreck, but as soon as neighbors began to come in the firemen and policemen, who were working hard removing the debris, learned that Wueu Iuo WALLS Iell AG l6aSC TOUT people were in the shop in the rear of Whites store. There had been no warning of i'm pending disaster and the people had not left the room. I
 BODIES RECOVERED.
 The workers renewed their efforts, and after few minutes labor with hooks and crowbars they brought to light Clara Greenburg, one of the sewing girls. She was near the front and was soon taken into the open air. She was not seriously hurt. She did not speak English very well, but she managed to say that the "boss and two girls were still inside"
 At 1:30 Ida White, aged twenty-one years, was found. She was badly bruised. At 3 o'clock the dead body of MT. White was recovered from the Wreckage. The fact that it was noon and most of the men were away at lunch prevented greater loss of life. The walls of the building were at their most vulnerable stage, but having progressed so that the rear wall was very high and without the support to be gained from their completion.
 COPING BLOWN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. A section of the stone balustrade around the roof of the white house was blown down and crushed through the roof of the partico at the eastern entrance of the base ment. A large number of telegraph and telephone wires were connected with tho roof at the point of the accident and they were carried down with the mass of | stone, completely shutting off all com munication with the house by wire. The | section destroyed was about twenty feet | long, composed of freestone in blocks and pillars and in falling carried with it a large portion of the cornice. It struck the roof | of the east portico with terrific crash and l wrecked it.
 OCCUPANTS UNINJURED. The noise caused quite commotion in the presidents household for few min utes, but speedy investigation showed that no one had been injured. The flag at the front of the building was cut in two as neatly as byA saw. The president was receiving the Minnesota delegation at the time and was apprised of the storm by a rush of water under the south windows and the crash of the ballustrade. He hastened to the private part of the house and treasured the ladies of his family.
 GAS RESERVOIR STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
 Winder's building on Seventeenth street, opposite the war department, was partly unroofed and the upper floors were de- luged with water. During the storm lightning struck the large gas reservoir at the corner of Twenty-sixth and c streets. Long tongues of flame from rents in the top of the structure rose high in the air. The twelve tall supporting columns of cast iron surrounding the tank snapped into dozen fragments. The first break in the thick iron casing prevented an e1. plosion which might have been very disas- trous.
 LOSS $50,OOO.
 The gas blazed at the openings as ii they were huge burners, and the 500,0 ,00C feet of gas were thus consumed. The scene WAS one of desolation. The huge casing of the reservoir was twisted in all con ceivable shapes and the fragments of the iron columns were scattered in all direc tions.
 The reservoir was nearly full, its capac ity being 600,000 feet. The company'f loss is $50, ,O0O, with no insurance.
 The ruins of the hall were removed and it was found MT. White was the only per son killed. The loss on this and adjoining buildings is $60,000. The total los throughout the city is $250, 900.
 SERIOUS SMASHUPS.
 Cars Rurned and Tracks Rlockaded.