The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-07
ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON.
Hail, Thunder and Lightning in
Quick Succession.
NATIVES FAIRLY AsToNIsHED.
The City Visited by the Sharpest
Thunderstorm 1t Has Known
in Years.

There was a decided disturbance in the
atmospherical upper regions last evening.
and for awhile it appeared as though
there was a serious upheaval in the
weather clerks department and things
had got out OF killer completely.
However it was, whether that ubiquitous
individual fell asleep at his past and
temporarily lost his grip on the combina-
too, or whether he relinquished his post
for awhile in order to swat an insubordi-
nate clerk. will probably never be known.
but be that as it may. within the space of
few minutes million tons or so Of unus-
ually heavy hail escaped and fairly deluged
this city. and two claps of thunder went
booming through the upper ether with
detonations that shook this fragile PENN
suIa from one END to another and
pro badly aroused echoes for miles beyond
its boundaries. These might have been
the 'swats" which the unfortunate
subordinate received, but at any rate they
were marvels in their way and have not
been equaled for intensity in these re-
glous for many years. Even the oldest in
habtant, when he recovered from the as
constituent which the sudden shock
eau sed had to scratch his head aud think
line before.
1t was shortly after Z o'clock VIII
rain, which had been falling in
good showers, began to come do
heavier volume and then it turned
Whew! but it did come
then and pedestrians received some
sharp stings on the cheeks and hands
from the rather large hailstones.
Even umbrellas bent inward
under the pressure of the stones. The
icy pellets ratified against window paneS
and car glasses, making sound like a
chorus of castane;s. Pedestrians every
where ran for shelter unoer awnings and
other convenient places.
It was then that the fracas above reached
its climax. On sudden there was blind
ing flash of lightning that was followed
seemed to shake the entire peninsula.
The report died away with a weird
rumble, and apparently affairs In
the weather clerks Office had settled down
to their normal condition. But those who
| thought so were mistaken. 1t was but a
few minutes when, as suddenly as the frs,
came the second crash, and it made the
| atmosphere hum, although it was not quite
| as loud as the initial peal.
Although the rain did not cease the
weather cerk was evidently well satisfied
| to rest on his laurels as thunderRr. for not
|
| ward.
| Many were the Incidents which attended
the first peal on account Of its suddenness.
| If the weather clerk had only intended TO
| brighten nervous ladies and give men with
weak nervous systems a shock be had
| every reason to chuckle over the sue
! cess of his cheerful scheme. Amung
the pedestrians on Kearny and Market
! streets ladies Shrieked aloud with terror
and their faces blanched as they chung
| to their escorts, or, if thew were alone,
| ran beneath a nearby awning, as though
they were fearful of something falling on
| them.
At the corner Of Post and Montgomery
| streets a young lady was about 10 board a
| car when the trem endOus roar came. With q
! scream of fright she reliuQuished her hold
| on the car and sank in sitting posture in
pool of muddy water. moaning and cry
| ing. Some of the passengers raised her
up and placed her on the car, which
| carried her away still shaking and crying,
| unmindful of her wet and stained clothes
Those who live on CalifOrns-street hill
say that the flash Of lightning presented a
beautiful sight. For an instant the entire
city, with its hills and deprsssIons lay
bathed in liquid flame. Twin Peaks
and the Mission hills stood out in
bold and rugged relief in the elemental
blaze. One curious feature of the storm
was The effect it had on the electric light
| system of the city. When the flash came
every electric light sank into a small blue
| blaze as IL about to 60 out. II was as il
they felt ashamed of themselves III the
! glare of mighty blaze from the upper re-
gions, and burned low until it was over,
when they came out in their usual effuI-
! gence.