Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-11
ALMOST A CYCLONE.
Steamihg Hot Day Followed by
Violent Electrical Storm.
Barns, Poles and Trees Blown Down
in Country--Other Damage.
Mill Tower Loses its Rooi-Stasing on City
Building Torn Away.

1t was hot. Sunday, easily the hot
meter registering In the shade about 81
degrees. and in some places, in espeoi.
ally hot localities. as high as 81. 1t fell
all of that and the people fairly wilted
Despite the fact of brisk wind blow
ing. there was little life in the air. anc
life was something of burden. Yet
withal. he who escaped to the shade OF
some piazza, with the fresh scent OF
the blossoming apple trees ana spring
rather the charming and soothing ar
rival of summer, proper.
The small boy felt the heat about
| him. and stand it he couldn't. So. into
the river he jumped, some dozen of
them. from certain semi-secluded
pier not so very far away. They said
| it was just as warm as could be-" did
their affirmations. it was noticed that
they didn't pass very long time un-
der water. but stood about and looked.
half longingly. but still bigger half.
afraid of the water. which was only SO
recently ice water of the genuine sort
But who ever knew a boy that would
admit his first swim a cold one?
Just about sundown the heavens
grew black. and the wind, what little
there was. had settled almost to a calm.
1t was that proverbial calm before the
storm for. little later. a great white
arch o'spread the heavens, and pale,
torn clouds came flying across the
dome of blackened sky. Then came
wind which can fairly be said to be tho
most violent that has been sent here
by the god of the winds in the past SIX
months, anyway. 1t was short but
while it lasted, it was certainly
grand. awful sight. The river black
from the reflection of the threatening
clouds. was frnged with short, crisp
tufts of foam, as the spray was sour
ried over the surface by the vicious
flaws
The air was filled with dust, and from
the city streets arose clouds of 1lnf
dirt. with small sticks. and buds, ant
blossoms from the tender trees, which
made walking a difficult piece of work
Horses were frightened, and blinded
by the clouds as were their drivers, ano
the wonder is that none ran away. not
but what they ran fast enough. but
events proved that none got beyond
control.
The tin roof of the tower Of mill No.
1, of the Edwards Manufacturing Co..
was completely lifted from it's pinning,
and blown to the ground. over hun
dred feet distant. Those who saw ii
go, say that the sheet rose at one side,
quivered, then rolled up like a sheet of
paper finally to twist up.and crumpled
and ripped into many pieces. fall to the
roof of the mill whence it was swept
like chaff. Brick and timbers went by
the board, and were hurled in every
direction. So naturally. one said, that
it was Just like one of them scenes in
the theatre where building comes
down. and they have half a dozen of
the boys behind, to throw things
around"
Nathan w. Cole agent of the com
pany. was soon on hand and had a
crew of men set to work. to repair the
gap, to keep the rain from coming in.
The sheet was some 30 feet square.
The staging on the roof of the new
city building was torn down from it's
place, and lay stranded in the gutter.
That no more casualties happened
was remarkable as houses trembled
from their very foundations. and peo-
pie trembled with them. 1t is thought
that, in the suburbs where there was
little protection the damage was great.
Limbs of trees were blown down in
many places, one tree on the property
of Lendall Titcombe, Esq. on Hospital
street, having been completely blown
down.
A woman on Bond street was struck
by a flying stone, and rendered un-
conscious, but suffered no permanent
injury.
To add to the excitement, an alarm
was rung in from box 80. on Cushnoc
Heights. 1t proved to be scare, how
ever, as it was sounded by some frantic