The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-07-06

Vineyards nc Reading Completely Do
stroyod, There Being Nothing Left but
the Vine--A storm for which the cold
est Inhabitant" Has No Parallel.
READING, July 6-This city was visited
W a bailstorm yesterday afternoon which
Or destructiveness eclipsed all previous
storms of the kind since 1866. The storm
originated about three miles west of Read
ng, and covered width Of about four
niles Shortly before o'clock black
loud appeared In the western horizon and
moved eastward rapidly. Twenty minutes
ater the streets of the city were covered
With hail and water, and the toy sewers
became choked, being entirely too small
20 carry of even one-tenth Of the water.
Grain, corn, oats, flower gardens, grapes
and other fruits were stripped off like
caves. The vineyards on Mount Penn
are completely ruined and the owners do
lot expect to obtain more than per cent
)f the crop. Many of these vineyards COW
cred acres, and there is nothing left but
ihe vine.
The stones were the size OF hickory nuts,
and fell so rapidly that pedestrians in this
,ity were driven from the sidewalks.
Street car horses became unmpnageable
rom the pelting hail, and the drivers were
compelled to stop the cars and seek shelter
because Of the hail striking them on the
lauds Tn the southern and northeastern
)art of tle city many cellars were flooded,
md in some instances the water rushed
/ through buildings, running carpets, etc.
4 H,.e dowupOur was terrible, and nothing
If the kind has ever been experienced in
the recollection of the oldest inhabitants.
At Royersford trains were delayed
wenty minutes by the tracks being
Hooded. A passenger train got into the
storm at Phmnixville and remained in it
until it was near P0ttstown. The storm is
described as terrific and the hail pelting
ihe roofs of the cars caused quite a panic
lnong the passengers The storm was ac-
sompanied by thunder and lightning.
South of Reading, especially along the
5chuylkill valley, the destruction to crops
was very great The wheat, rye and oats
crops not yet cut have been leveled to the
ground and many Of the fields were
Hooded.
At Birdsboro hail fell to the depth Of
;hree inches, and in some places was piled
lp to n depth Of nearly foot
It is believed that the damage in the
5chuylkill valley will reach many thou
sands Of dollars The glass of the hot
houses in this city and in the track of the
storm were shattered and thousands Of
young plants ruined. The beautiful
lowers and plants which were just set out
by the Reading company at the Reading
station were cut TO pieces. The Reading
forge, on North Eighth street, was flooded
, 70 a depth of four feet, and the fires had
TO be drawn and the works shut down.
CAMDEN, N. j., July Ga severe cleo
, Uric storm, accompanied by hail, passed
over Camden last evening Trees were up
rooted and in the northern part of the city
many houses were unroofed. The light
ning struck the cityelectric light plant and
! destroyed the two dynamos which supply
? the incandescent light to residences in the
sity. A large planning mill at Rosendale
Stockton township, was struck and de
5troyed. The growing crops throughout
the county were badly damaged by the
hail.
KINGSTON, N. Y, July 6.-One Of the
severest electrical storms ever known i1
) this section passed over this place last
evening. 1t lasted for more than an hour.
When the storm had finished there was 8
sound like a mufIled explosion. Houses
shook and people rushed to the streets
fearing the buildings were tumblinq
down. 1t was the general opinion that
, the town had been shaken by an earth,
quake.