Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-12-11
DEATH In THE WHIRLWIND.
Heavy Damage Done by Storm
in Washington.
The Gales Fury in Maryland,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

An electric cyclone swept over " ashing-
ton, District Of Columbia at 1896 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-five
years, a ladies' tailor whose store was
crushed by the falling walls OF an unfinished
music ball near the corner OF Twelfth and F
streets, Northwest The parsons most
seriously injured were his daughter Ads,
leg broken: his German apprentice
Clara Greenbery, eighteen. badly bruised,
and d clerk in the Agricultural Department.
Anna darknesS. twenty, was crossing the
open grounds about the department building
and was hurled by the 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
quarter of a mile wide, ami 1t swept clear
from Georgetown to Capitol Hill, whence
it whired southwark across the Potomac
1t left 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
are those named. The aggregate loss must
be large, though scattered in small amounts.
The heaviest loser is George MetZerott, pro-
prietOr of the unfinished music nall, which
was blown down. His music store adjoining
was also wrecked. Mr.. MetZer1tt is the
man for whom was named the recent
socialistic novel, 'Metzerout, Shoemaker"
The storm was SO sudden and furious that
it brought terror and confusion. 1t lasted
only ten minutes. but it lett 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.
The cyclone was preceded by murky
atmosphere, so humid and warm as to be
sultry, despite brisk breeze. Overhead
the sky was covered with dark,
flying masses of yellowish vapor. Sud
denly the northern horizon grew black
and then, with startling swiftness, it
grew SO dark that the gas had to be lighted
in the brightest rooms. Another moment
and the streets were filled with rain, driven
with fierce violence by the bowling hurri-
cane. The first damage done was at George
town. where lightning set on fire one OF the
gas tanks.
At the White House 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
Halford was standing at the window of his
office, just above, when the coping fell and
was startled by the noise. The flagstaff on
top of the White House was snapped by the
wind.
The same storm struck Baltimore, Nd,
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 a
number of houses were urrOOfed and the
contents of the houses deluged with water.
A tremendous rain and thunder and light
ming accompanied the gale. In the harbOr
several small craft were capsiZed and larger
vessels dragged their anchors.
no dan % no
struction of portion Of G. S. Maltby's large
oyster-packing house on Westfall avenue,
near the docks. The wind ripped off the
immense roof and blew in the walls of the
fourth story.
A severe wind and rain 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 Lehigh and Lack
awanua Railroad.
A terrific rain, wind and thunder storm
passed over the Carlisle PENN section of
the Cumberland Valley, doing considerable
damage to property. Many buildings are
blown down, roofs blown off and trees up
rooted.
While school was in session at the Graham
schoolhouse the roof was blown 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 Gills. Another pupil, unknown, arm
badly injured; and about seven or eight
Others slightly injured.
The ''Sunnyside'' schoolhoUse was partially
blown down, and from what can be learned
a number of the pupils were injured.
The lower deck OF the DC ean Pier at Cape
May, N j.. was washed away by the break
ers. The surf is beating heavily against the
beach at 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 uu-
able to make a landing on the west side OF
the river ewing to the strong east wind