The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-16
DEATH In THE WHIRLNLND.
Heavy Damage Done by a Storm
in Washington.
The Gales Fury in Maryland,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

An electric cyclone swept over W ashins-
ton, District Of Columbia, at 1880 o'clock in
the afternoon, resulting in the loss of one
life and the injury of several persons. The
only one killed was George White, forty-fve
years, a ladies' tailor. whose store was
cruscelhy the falling walls Of an unfinished
music hall near the corner Of Twelfth anil F
streets, Northwest. The persons most
seriously injured were his daughter Ada.
leg broken: his German apprentice,
Clara Greenoerg, eighteen, badly bruised,
and d clerS in the Agricultural Department.
Anna darkness, twenty. was crossing the
open grounds about the department building
and was hurled by toe wind against the iron
fence. A rod OF the fence was bent by the
impact and Miss Hardness was so seriously
hurt internally that she was taken to the
hospital.
The path OF the cyclone was less than a
quarter Of q mile wide, AMI it swept clear
from Georgetown to Capitol Hill, whence
IL whirled southwark across the Potomac.
It lerr in its track scores of unroofed houses,
twisted gas lamps broken windows and
torn tree tops, but so far as
known the only accidents to persons
be large, though scattered in small amounts.
The heaviest loser is George Metzerott, pro.
prietor of the unfinished music hall, which
vas blown down. His music store adjoining
was, also wrecked. Mr.. Metzerott is the
man for whom was named the recent
socialistic novel, "Metzerott Shoemaker"
The storm was so sudden and furious that
It brought terror and confusion. It lasted
only ten minutes, but it left behind most
exaggerated reports and the greatest excite
ment. Had the hour been different many
workmen might have been killed, but they
were fortunately at dinner.
Thes cyclone was preceded by a murky
atmosphere, SO humid and warm as to be
sultry, despite a brisk breeze. Overhead
the sky was covered with dark,
flying masses of %yellowish vapor. Sud-
denly the northern horizon grew blacS,
and then, with startling swiftness, 1t
grew so dark that the gas had to be lighted
In the brightest rooms. Another moment
and the streets were filed with rain, driven
with fierce violence by the bowling hurrl-
cane. The first damage done was at George
town, where lightning set on fire one or the
AT the White House a portion of the stone
coping of the southern balcony, just opposite
the Treasury Department, was torn loose
and fell to the courtyard below, smashing
the brick pavement. Private Secretary
iHalford was standing at the window Of his
IOmCo. lQSU aOONS, "u6u Iuo SOplAS AOhi o4A
was startled by the noise. The flagstaff on
top of the White House was snapped by the
wind.
The same storm struck Baltimore, Nd,
forty minutes after it reached Washington,
demolishing barns, farm outhouses and other
frame buildings on the way. Telegraph
wires were Frustrated and in some places the
poles were blown down.
In the southwestern part Of the city q.
number OF houses were unroofed and the
contents of the houses deluged with water.
A tremendous rain and thunder and hght
ming a~ccompanie~ the gale. In the harboI !
several small craft were capsizsd and larger
vessels dragged their anchors.
The most serious damage there was the de-
~structiou Of a portion Of c. s. Maltby's large
oyster-oacking house on Westfall avenue
near the docks. The vino ripped of the
immense roof and blew in the walls of the
fourth story.
A severe wind andrain storm struck Beth.
lehem, Penn, at 2:30 o'clock in the after
noon. The rain, which came from the south
southeast, blew fences, trees, signs, tele.
graph and telephone poles and wires to the
ground. Many houses are unroofed in the
country districts along the Lehighand Lack
awanna Railroad.
A terrific rain, wind and thunder storm
passed over the Carlisle penny section of
the Cumberland Valley, doing considerable
damage to property. Many buildings are
blown down. roofs blown of and trees up
rooted.
While school was in session at the Graham
schoolhouse the ROOT was blown a distance Of
eighty feet, and the walls fell in. The fol-
lowing are the injured: Miss Bertha Rudy,
the teacher; Sallie Fisher, Lewis Wilson,
james ellis. Another pupil, unknown, arm
badly injured; aud about seven or eight
Others slightly Injured.
The "~Sunnyside" schoolhouse was partially
blown down, and from what can be learned
q number of the pupils were injured.
The lower deck Of the Ocean Pier at Cape
May, n. J.. was washed away by the break
ers. The surf Is beating heavily against the
beach ut Cape May Point and is cutting
down the bluff.
A terrific rain storm and gale prevailed
along the lower Hudson River and caused
much damage to property. j. 0. David
sons steam yacht Princess and many smaller
craft were sunk Off Nyack. n. Y. The
steamer Raleigh, from New York, was IN.
able to make a landing on the west side OF
the river owing 10 the strong east wind.