The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-17
THE STORM.
4 Heavy Fall OF Rsin-some of the
Damage Done.

Damage Done.
Yesterday mornings storm was the most
severe in many ways Of any that has visited
San Francisco for long time. People who
were about at half-pRst in the morning
could see heavy black clouds showing their
ominous edges above the western hills with
low grumblinEs and vivid flashes Of light,
an accompaniment TO a storm almost IN
known in San Francisco. Slowly the clouds
approached. aud as they came nearer grew
blacker and seemed to pile one on top Of
the other until they looked like pail OF
heavy crepe hanging over the city. Then
came few scattering raindrops, which the
wind seemed to drive back TO the Clouds
but only for a moment when back they
came with thousands Of companions. and
for some minutes it seemed as If all the
drops had combined and came down in a
deluge all over the city.
The quantity Of water which fell here
was not sufficient to choke the sewers. but
had if been prolonged there Is no telling
where the damage would have stopped.
Between 6 and o'clock the most rain fell,
and during that time The cutters were
turned into small rivers, and to-day citizens
could be seen In all parts Of the city scrap
ing away the piles of sand deposited by the
fTeshets IN their yards or on the streets IN
front Of their residences.
Perhaps the most damage was done by
the Franklin-stEeet sewer bursting near the
corner Of Greenwich, flooding and nearly
washing away the greenhouses and gardens
OF a florist named L. GFeget. which is
known as the French nursery. This &C.
cured about 40 o'clock in the morning.
Mr.. GTeget and his assistant live in the
greenhouse and they had just got through
breakfast when they heard heavy
rumbing In the street In front OF theis
house. They both rushed out 10 see what
was the matter when they were met at the
front door By streams of water which came
pouring cut as If from a nozzle from differ
eBt parts Of their favorite chIysanthemum
patch. All at oDce the bed of flowers,
which was about twenty-five feet long and
i've feet wide, was lifted up bodily by the
force Of the water. which rushed from the
sewer 10 a torrent, carrying everything
lying about loose with 1t.
The houses were flooded to depth Of
about three feet, and so great was the rush
Of water that tie walls Of the houses
bulged out and the structures threatened to
collapse. The h0Urs were undermined IN
some places and gave way, pIling stones,
bedding and flowers in confused mass.
The garden slopes back from the street, and
about two feet Of the soil OF the yard was
carried back and deposited in the rear and
on the neigbbors' lots. Trees, shrubs and
plants we're uprOOted and the whole garden
completely demolished.
Tile line of the sewer as il runs along
this part OF the street is about the natural
level Of the ground, and 1t has been banked
up FIVE or six feet and wide enough for a
driveway The brickwork of the sewer is
visible in many places Cd the top of the
embankment. and 1t is considered that 1t
has been weakened by the heavily loaded
wagons which are hauled on IL
the gardener estimated his damage at
about $500. He is an old man. and as il
was about all he had it will be hard work
for him TO recover from his loss.
Lieutenant j. 2. Finley, chief OF the
Weather Bureau, was busy In bis Office
yesterday afternoon when asked for some
particulars Of the storm. He said that the
total rainfall was 90 inches.
This Storm" he continued, 'was like
almost all other storms on the coast. travel
Ing East 1t struck British Columbia On
Thursday afternoon last and moved slowly
over tie Canadian provinces, Washington,
Idaho and Washington, and only the edge
of the rain area reached California. The
center or the storm is located at point
about 800 miles north of the Canadian
boundary line and is slowly travelling In an
easterly direction.
"The rain area as far as the Pacific Coas,
Is concerned extends as a rule about 70C
miles south from the center of the storm
center: consequently, this storm OF yester-
day, which is travelling in about the forty
fourth degree OF latitude, would only give
San Francisco a sighting visit. Later in
the year, or In December and January.
these storm centers have a more southerly
course, giving California more wet weather
as a consequence. In the summer the
storms travel further north and California
escapes the rain.
Rains are very frequent In California dur
Ing October from LEGAL causes, but it falls
usually at night. When these ''lOcaf'
storms and travelling" storms continue
they are more severe.
'The wind on Saturday was southeast, but
toward midnight it commenced to Change
and before noon yesterday it had gone
round the compass twice. These variable
winds usually give rise to the atmospheric
electricity aud Increase the rainfall.
"Ihis storm was general throughout the
Sacramento Valley and the northern and
eastern part of Northern California. Snow
fell in the Sierra Nevada Mountains east Of
Sacramento and north of Rcd Bluff This
temperature was very low all over the State
even as far south as San Diego, where thu
thermometer registered 4s. At Barstow, ir
the MoJave Desert, the temperature wa:
az, and at K eler, In the Orange River Val