Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-19

rendered The scene appalling. Hal!
I lei l2nger than at any other time dur
ins Che lie time of the oldest inhabi-
tan', and the stones ranged in size
trom peas to pigeons eggs The rain
/ TAIL which preceded the hail Was very
heavy, and the wind blew with hurri-
Gaze force, in some instances de-
no!ishing outhouses and sheds,
twisting limbs from trees, tearing
up shingles and rolling bricks from
chimneys, and in about half dozen
cases completely unroofng houses.
IL WAS the first severe hail storm which
has visited Alexandria since June .,
1879, when most Of the windows in
houses facing the west were shattered.
1t is said that seventeen-year locusts
are the harbingers of such commissions
OF nature-the year 1877 when they
made their last appearance, it will BE-
remembered, being notable for thunder
storms. Hence there are more to fol-
low il this theory be correct.
AS usual, on such occasions, tho storm
broke upon many unawares. though
the more apprehcnsive had taken all
precautionary measures in the way of
closing windows and blinds and making
ready to receive the tempest. But in
houses where no such safeguards had
been adopted the roaring wind and the
lightning flashes caused considerable
commotion, as Intellectual attempts
were made to secure shutters which
were about to be twisted from their
hinges and to corral children who were
in the streets into houses. BY this
time it was necessary to light lamps in
dwellings, SO sable was the cloud, and
the swaying trees, flying branches,
sailing shingles and rolling bricks,
with now and then crash
OF something giving way under
erling itself without, produced many
beating heart. Men with ivory coun-
tenances, pretending they were not
alarmed, looked at each other appre
hensivrly, women became panic-strcken
aud ran from room 10 room, some cry
ing and others praying, while children
clung 10 their elders and exhibited al
most as much alarm as though the
evontfuI day written Of by those of Old
had come ut last. After the cloud had
empicd itself OF lis vapors the scene
changed to one equally as weird, hal!
ston.s s, the largest ever seen hereahouts,
falling in great number The roar upon
the roofs of houses as these icy pellets
descended and the jingle of glass when
they broke panes and effected entrances
was appalling. Eventually evidences
of the silver lining, said to be in all
clouds, began to be manifested as the
hail generally the rear guard of such
slorms) subsidized, and people began to
scene There was not thoroughfare
which was not more or less strewn with
branches from trees, while in others
the entire trunks were Frustrated with
their roots pointing toward the setting
sun. Bat, old Alexandria, true to her
tradition, had suffered no real casually,
for though an icc-house had been
wrecked and half dozen houses un-
rooted, but two people had been hurt,
and they not seriously.
The scenes and incidents and the
thrilling experiences OF this and that
one would, Of course, fill the entire pa
per, and il is necessary merely TO men
ton the cases Of actual damage and
where personal injury followed. While
the wind WAS roaring with tornado
force an OLD building near the canal
basin, which had been used by Mr.. J.
w Hammond as an ice house, was COM
llctely demolished, and Wilmer Della
plane and John Riley, two strangers,
who had entered it for shelter, were
caught in the debris. John Bryant and
another colored man, who were near by.
went to their rescue, and, after mucn
difficulty, succeeded n eXtricating the
men. Heavy scanlling had fallen Oh
both OF them, and Delaplane was cut
about the head, and Riley much bruised
They were both taken to the station
house, where they received attention.
The fierce wind completely unroofed
the residences of Mr. Geo. McBurney
and Mr. j. NJ White, the first on the
northest corner of Washington and
Wolfe streets, and the other one north
on the first named street. The tin was
ripped up in an instant and whirled to-
ward the cast, carrying with it ratlers
and chimneys, leaving the Interiors to
the mercy of the pitiless rain and hail.
OF course, wall paper aud furniture
were damaged considerably and the
houses rendered untenantable, While
the heavy downpour which followed
during the night completely flooded
them. Two brick houses opposite
Washington School, halfa square away,
belonging to Mr.. K. j. Thomas. suffer
ed a similar fate, the Two roofs being
rolled up like scrolls and the interiors
exposed.
The walls of a house being construct
ed by Mr.. Paul Putnam near the cor
ner of Franklin and Washington streets
were Frustrated.
About one thousand feet of lumber
piled on the wharf at Flshtown was
picked up by the wind and sent sailing
into the river.
Two new houses in process of cree
ton by Messrs. Joseph and Henry Pad
gett on Prince street were considerably
injured.
The skylight of house on upper
Duke street was carried away during
the early part of the storm and the
house flooded by the rain.
Houses in process of erection in
every portion Of the city were more or
less damaged.
Chimneys were blown down in every
part of the city and others damaged by
bricks being blown from them.
The tin roof on Paff and Sons work
shop was carried off and landed on the
back building of French's book store.
ILL., L