Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-15
MIDNIGHT CYCLONE.
AoEsTRucrwe Dip INTO THE HEART
OF Tee cocKApE CITY.
The Central Market wrecked add Build,
snes Uaroofed--rfsavy Chesterfield
Lossss-Freak of tho storm.
Correspondence Of tho Richmond DI.patcb.l

tCcsrespcndcnce Of tho Richmond Dispatcb.l
PErshsnunc. Va, September ia cy-
clone. passing from southwest 20 north
cast. dipped down into the heart Of the
city about half-past - o'clock this morn
Ing, doing a great deal OF damage in q
small area ia almost O moments time, and
then rising again. went on lis way above
the houses In tho eastern portion of the
town. The trst torce of the wind. hut not
its full strength. seems 10 have been telt
near the almshouse, where the buildings
were shaken and the fences blown down.
When u struck halifax street large trees
were uprooted or twisted OF like so many
tipc-stems. and the people were awakened
from their sleep in great alarm. Mr.. A. =.
Archer's kitchen was lifted bodily and
thrown into neighbor'a yard. Mr.. w. j..
Cation, and number of small out-houses
were toppled over and fences scattered.
ira sEyKRITY INCREASES.
A heavy rain aud brilliant flashes Of
lightning accompanied the wind. which
Increased IN severity as i approached the
centre of the city. The entire roof OF MIR.
Charles Seylef's dwelling and store, at the
corner Of Halifax and GIL streets, was
swept of, and the upper brick front OF the
building thrown down. The sleeping IN
mates in the upper room were left ex-
posed to the rain, but were fortunately
not injured.
THK CENTRE MARKET WRECKED.
Centre-Market Square extends from
Halifax TO Harrison streets. and the
commodious and convenient market
house thereon covered space be-
tween 300 and 400 feet in length. A.
tached to the building on the south side
and running its entire length was oroad
shed for the accommodation aud protec-
ton of bucksters and country salespeopie.
Both were wrecked, for at this particular
spot the fierce wind seems TO have de-
seconded in all its force. The entire shed.
from end TO end, was Knocked to pieces.
The tin roof Of the market-house was
rolled up like so much paper ana
swept away. Huge rolls OF the tin
lodged in the bell-tower of the tre-
engine house just beyond. Other large
rolls were carried hundreds OF Feet
away and dumped into the yards OF peo-
pie living long distances apart. The front
windows of Mr.. Maurice Finn's store. on
Halifax street, were crushed IN by rag
ments of the wreck. Grea1pstches OF the
roofing timbers of the building were torn
up and turned upside down. fartles
living in the vicinity of the Centre Dlarket
give VIVID description of the noise ana
crash of the timbers and say the whoie
damage was done in less than minutes
time. Venable's tobacco-factory, In the
near vicinity. was considerably damaged
on the roof by the wind.
SERIOUS DAMAGE IN CHESTERFIELD.
After scooping down upon the market
house and Venable's factory, the cyclone
suddeIly took an ascent and passed over
Harrison street and that portion OF the
city beyond until 1t reached the lower
portion of Lombard street, where 1t par
italy unroofed large brick building oc-
cupied by a colony OF negroes. upset car
near the wharf, and crossed the river Just
west of Blandford.
On the Chesterfield side the wind struck
and demolished the large barn and other
buildings on the Roslyn farm, owned by
MIR. Redben Rsgland. scattering the con-
tents and timbers for q long distance. On
the farm of Mr.. Cadmus Archer, mile be-
yond Mr.. Raglsnd's, liberal quantities OF
the scattered detris were found this morn
ing. and over a space OF fully two miles
the heavy beams of the barn were found
Embedded so firmly in the ground that they
could not be moved.
Mr.. highlands barn was recently built
at a cost of $1,000. 1t was filled with hay
and proyender. which were blown away
beyond recovery. In the stables were
seven fine mules, all of them being badly
nJuIed, and two OF them 10 sucn an eA-
tent that ;hey will have TO be killed. The
farming implements were scattered over
distance of half q mile.
MARROW ESCAPE OF FAMILY.
The dwelling-house on Mr. Ragland's
farm was occupied by his overseer, Mr..
Andrews. and his wife and family. This
house was ruined. Mr.. Andrews jumped
from his bed and underworld TO hold his
front-dOor against the wind. 1t was blown
open aud fell upon him, and the bed upon
which Mrs. Andrews was lying was violent
ly oyerthrown by the wind and she fell
beneath il. Fortunately all the inmates
escaped uniniured. MIR. highlands loss
will reach between $4,000 and $4,000.
REMARKABLE OCCURRENCE.
The width of the cyclone IN Chester
field was between 200 and 800 yards. AS 1t
swept through the fields 1t moved down
the broom ssdge and scrub growth like a
scythe. Ii struck across from Roslyn TO
Swift creek. followed the channel down TO
the river, and thence to Bermuda Hun
bred. where II il reported to have caused
serious damage TO the vessels anchored
there.
A large walnut-tree. almost in its entire
~, was deposited in Mr.. Highlands yard
by the wind. Whence il came or from
what distance MIR. Ragland could not
learn. although he has made dlllgent in
curry to-day. There are no trees within
many hundred yards of the Roslyn build
ings. Along Swift creek and the Apo
mattox rlver many trees were Frustrated
and toppled over into the streams.