Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-30


strewn with trees. about thirty or forty
magnificent shade trees having been up
rooted by the wind Six or seven OF the
large shade trees IN courthouse square
were also blown down. AS was the case
in Richmond. the falling trees carried
electric wires down with them, ana MAI
chester was cnvcloped Ia total darh"eaS'
Every light on the Free bridge was also
extingulshed. and the street-cafs were
unable 20 run.
DANGER OF 4 CONFLAGRAT1ON.
The imnairment OF the fre-alarm tele-
eranh accustomed much alarm among the
civ Fathers. as the city was LETT almosI
al the mercy OF the fiery element should
"a confederation begin. superintendent
THOMPSON was actively at work now
ever and was doing the very best that
ne could under the circumstances. lie
stationed a man on the signal-tower NJ
the City Hall 10 keep sharp look out
for blazos Of any kind, and established
mounted messenger service between 'ne
various englne-houses, the men at each
station being kept on the alert TO RESPOND
TO alarms as soon as received.
There was really very great danger OF
a confapration. a. the electric lighting
wires were strewn all over the streets
and on many hOuse-tOps. Superin-
tendent Thompson had the power cut or
from these wires Just as soon as he could
communicate with the power-house on
Browns Island. but as the telephones
were not working ne had TO wait until
"a messenger could be dispatched TO the
Island. The danger was so great thar
II was AT one time thought necessary TO
have all the police mounted. 80 that they
might patrol every portion Of the city as
A. l.r MI .
give alarms Of fire as speedily as pos
eiblc. When the currents were shut off
from the wires. however, IL was thought
that this would not be necessary. and
the police were left on their feet though
an additional number were placed on
duty.
The waters in the dock and in the river
were stirred up considerably by the gale
and Mr.. Jack McDonough, an expert
swimmer. remained on duty at the dock
during the entire time the storm lasted
ready tc render assistance TO any one
who might be unfortunate enough TO iaI
m His services were, however. not called
for.
STEEPIES AND ROOFS INJURED.
During the fury Of the gale the wind
took out a section OF the steeple OF
Broad-Street Methodist church, corner
Tenth and Broad streets. and othtrWlse
injured that edifce. The steeple Of the
Third Presbyterian church, corner IWen-
tv-sixth and Broad. was relieved Of part
Of its support ana left i'm a topping condi-
ton. Damage was also done to Grace
Episcopal church. Foushee and Main
streets. and other houses Of worship were
more or less seriously injured.
Roofs were blown off the factories OF
the j. p. Pace Tobacco Company, the
Richmond Chemical Works, W. ). Nar-
brough & Sons. j. n Cullingworth.
Cameron & Cameron. the Richmond Ice
Company and several other Of the larger
buildings in the eastern part Of the city
while I'm the western section of the city
the roof Of the car barn Of tho Richmond
Traction Company was entirely blown
off. and much injury was done TO resi-
dences The immense wholesale house OF
Fleishman Morris & Co. corner OF
Franklin and Governor streets. was de-
prived Of a part OF It's covering. and the
Exchange Hotel is reported to have suf-
fored TO the same extent. The brick sta
bic on the north side Of Franklin street
between Governor and Fourteenth was
partially demolished while the single
wall Of the old factory OF the Randolph
Paper-Box Manufacturing Company
which was left standing after the recent
fire. stood like an unbending and impene-
tr9bie structure aga i1st The wind
All the tin was blown of the roof OF the
factory of Mr.. I. \. Vaughan. and the
warehouse Of Mr.. A. b. Eddins. a num-
Der Of residences on Franklin street be
tween Seventh and Eighth were also par
TALLY unroofed in this manner. and their
occupants greatly alarmed and neon
venicnced.
THE CASUALTIES REORTED.
4 most exciting casualty occurred at No.
7G east Broad street. where Messrs. ia
cobs q Levy conduct a gentlemen's fur
nishing store. The third story Of the
building there Is occupied by the family
Of Mr. Kessler. driver Of Engine No.
Of the Richmond Fire Department. Mr..
Kessler and his family had retired when
the roof Of the house gave away, and
some OF the timbers fell into a room i'm
which his children were sleeping \ 4
ycar-old daughter was badly cut and
bruised about the head but was not dan
gerouely injured. The occupants of the
house vacated i'm wild cons ternation, but
soon were comfortably installed in other
quarters.
A colored woman, named Maggie Battle,
was badly hurt just as she went to close
her front door at No 2l3 Mayo street.
~
I'm the door, and the womsn's face and
head were terribly gashed
Nr Henry Gibson. an employee Of the
Dispatch. met with quite a peculiar ac-
cldent during the storm While passing
along one Of the streets in the West End
"a large mulberry tree blew upon him.
knocking him down, and. though not Sc
riou-'v injuring him. IL was ten or fifteen
minutes before he could eNtricate himself.
DAMAGE ALONG THE DOCK.
Al the corner OF Seventeenth and Cary
a chimney Of the building occupied by K.
Francioni blew upon an adjoining house,
I'm which the family of John Gionotu re-
sided. Mr.. Gionotti's family had just left
the building in time 10 save their HVes.
as the falling chimney smashed In the
upper part OF their house.
A large boat, owned by Mr. Pettus'
was anchored mid-stream when the
storm began. but when the tempest sub
sided 1t had been blown high upon the
shoals several hundred yards from where
II originally stood. Ii could not be ascer-
tained last night what amount oI dam-
age had been done 10 the boat. Other
vessels are reported 10 have received Sc
rious injuries by the storm.
Part Of the old freight depot OF tHe
southern Railway Company was blown
down. as was the high fence around >.
II. Hawes & Co.'S coal elevator.
The hatchways of the coal barge host
Hagan we're ripped off by the gale ana
two lighters. owned by Mr.. Hockaday'
were washed ashore and almost totally
demolished
some Of the trestles in the lower part
Of the city were also badly damaged anu
small frame houses on the outskirts OF
the city suffered an incalculable amount
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