Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-09-27
WINDS, HAIL, RAIN.
Worst Storm in Years. Heavy DAM
ages to Houses, Trees and Or
chards,

Worst Storm in Years. Heavy DAM
ages to Houses, Trees and Or
chards.
The worst storm experienced here in
years occurred yesterday afternoon and
although its duration was short, the
damage done was heavy. 1t burst sud
denly upon the village at about $50
o'clock, and in less than five minutes was
over and the sun again shining brightly
An hour before, the sky in the northwest
appeared cloudy but it partially cleared
away. A few minutes before the rain
began to fall, the sky rapidly blackened,
and, with an unusual suddenness, soon
poured rain and hail, accompanied by
winds that leveled trees and carried
along binding mass of leaves, etc.
Hardly had the rain begun to fall
when it came in torrents accompanied
by hail stones. They were large and
were hurled with great force by the
winds, most of the damage to the windows
being caused by them. After the storm
was over piles of them were seen in var
| ious portions of the village.
Many residences in the village suffered
considerable damage, windows having
been broken or pushed out of place, al
lowing free entrance for the water.
Among the residences damaged was that
of j. Ed. Walbridge, the one being erect
ed by F. o. Graves; those of Mrs. Kate
Green, F. o. Graves and others. Sever
al lights of glass were blown out of the
residences of c. N. Powers, D. G. Burt,
D. A. Ward, L. N. Evans, Eugene Dietz,
DIR. Cutler, r. B. Godfrey; in fact.
houses on most every street were more
or less damaged by the hail or water.
On Willow street, the residence of A.
D. Stewart sustained the loss of two
chimneys. The tin roofing of a tene-
ment owned by Mrs. Daniel McEowen,
in the rear of the Baptist church, was
ripped off and carried some distance
The number of trees blown down, or
partly so, on the different streets in the
village cannot be told. Many handsome
shade trees were blown down or de-
stroyed Main, Union, Elm, River, De-
pot, Willow, Silver, Hillside, North,
South and Adams were almost impassi-
BILE for some time by reason of the trees
that were lying across.
The electric light and telephone wires
were torn down in many places by fall
|
ing trees. More than one of the poles
we're toppled over. Most of the village
was in darkness last evening excepting
where kerosene lamps were used. At
about s. 10 the wires on Main street from
the light station to the Campbell mill
were placed in position so that the lights
could be used in most of the buildings
on that street. 1t will be two or three
weeks before the wires will again all be
in position. The telegraph wires were
uninjured. The damage to fruit trees
is heavy.
The hail or rain did not touch North
Bennington, though there was quite a
heavy shower. The storm approached
from the west passing over the village to
the east. IL failed to reach as far north
as County street and must have been
purely local. During it's height, nothing
outside could be seen but a black with
ing mass. At distance it appeared as
though huge black column was sweep
ing along over the housetops. Old resi-
dents say that for short storm it was
the worst they ever knew here. The
damages in town will amount to many
hundred dollars.
The team of E. w. Bradford was on
Main street just as the storm was in all
its fury. The two horses became fright
ened and ran. The team struck an OBJ
struction, overturning it and throwing
the driver. Frank Cunningham. to the
ground. He received some quite pain
full injuries.