The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-07


to say astonishing in several particulars.
For the thunder to roll through the
heavens all day long is very rare OCCUR
renoe in these latitudes. In addition the
phenomenon was accompanied by sun-
cession Of exceedingly heavy showers.
While the weather bureau officials could
not exactly say they Believed the rainfall
to be the heaviest recorded In Portland.
The storm began at II O'Clock Saturday
night and proceeded SO industriously that
up to O'Clock Sunday morning the rain
fall amounted to 2.71 inches. When 1t Is
remembered that all the rain which fell
in the whole month Of July was $40
storm can be judged.
The big storm of March of last winter
sent down only 8. 80 inches of water while
the whole of this storm counting In Sun
days precipitation was five OF six inches
(exactly from the observation taken at 8
p. m. SUNDAY 5.2S inohes.)
The great rainfall was accompanied by
little or no wind, although gales were
due on the heels Of the storm.
The weather bureau says that storm
from the Florida coast came up and met
one from the Lake region.
Information was received at the local
station Sunday morning from the chief
office at Washington stating that the
storm was central at Lake Huron at a.
M, and moving east. The Washington
office predicted southeast gales with
heavy rains.
The Portland office hoisted at once the
so utheast signals.
The thunder which was rolling through
the heavens all day long was very un-
usual feature.
The damage hereabouts was inconsider-
able. The roads in Cape Elizabeth were
badly washed and those in Deering suf-
ffered somewhat.
Several of the cellars on Commercial
street were flied, also several cellars of
houses at the foot of Grove street. The
sewe rs were unable to take care of all of
the water.
The city streets were badly washed and
the electric railroad turns at Spring and
High streets and Morning and Congress
streets were badly clogged with sand.
And at High and Spring streets car ran
off and up TO the sidewalk.
The newsboys were almost drowned
out, and on some routes failed altogether
to get their papers around.
Mr.. Ternald the commissioner of Pub
lie works and Superintendent Staples
were seen last evening. They stated that
| the injury done By the storm to the
streets or the city was greater than in
the March frsshets. All the hill streets
are very badly washed and the damage
| to them will amount to between So, 00O
and $1,000. The bulk of the rain falling
| at the time of half tide caused the salt
| water to choke the sewers and burst both
| the one on Grove street and the Alder
street sewer. Such force had the water
| that the great heavy iron cover of the
| 1nanhole at the foot Of Fox street, that
weighs 175 pounds was forced of and q
stream Of water shot up into the air q
| distance of eight feet
| The water forced the iron cover of the
manhole at the corner of Mapleiand Com
m eroial street off and.carried it distance
of two rods on Commercial street.
| At the foot Of Mellen street q monster
| hole was made in the street, quilted GU
by the rushing waters.
Nj. Fernald said that if the intercept
ing sewer had been built it would hav'
prevented much OF the damage as i
would have carried off the surface water
At Pride's bridge the water rose In til,
river four and half inches in half al
hour.
The Portland Railroad Co. reports
small washout at Ocean street, DeeIing
and announcer at Riverton park.
There were more cellars fioode,
throughout the city said Mr.. Staples
than in the March storm.
Mr.. Staples said there could be no oele
bration of Labor Day for the city laborer
as he had issued call for everyone to b
on hand promptly this morning to repai
damages.
People from Great Chebeague.and Haru
swell and the outer islands Of the bay So
uO dU OLA JdudAdry hl&As ohS 4o1A pOoAo
in torrents and the wind howled perfec
gale and that the sea was terribly roug
outside.
The signal observer says that the fall @
rain " as heaviest from - O'Clock SatuI
day night to p. M. yesterday than wa
ever recorded in the same time at til
weather bureau which was established j
1871. The great storms of February.2e
March 1 and Q, 1895 amounted to So
inches. That was for three days, Will
the record yesterday was 5.28 inches 70
four hours less than day.
The water backed up and extinguishe
the fires at the West End hotel, but afte
the rain ceased the water drained off an
she fires were started again.
The Nettie Gushing Relieved.
The schooner Nettie Cushing of Thorn