The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-18
MANY CHIMNEYS FALL
Old Baptist Female College Hurled
Down. Roofs Crushed In.
THE NARROW ESCAPE OF A FAMILY
The End Of Their House Was Wrenched Away
by the Wind, But No One Vas Hurt.
Church SteepIe Struck by
Lightning.

Especial to the News and Observer)
Durham, N. c., August 17.-Last night
one of the most destructive storms that
has been witnessed in years visited this
city and did considerable damage.
In Edgemont, where the new cotton
mills are being erected the damage was
very severe. The east wall of the cot
ton MILL which was nearly up to the third
story was blown down to the top part of
the first story and crushed the window
framing into srlinters Just below the
windows of the east wall, which remained
standing is a large crack in the brick
work and it is thought that the wall will
have to be taken completely down in
order to repair this.
The wall of the engine room which is on
the north side of the mill is also cracked
very badly, ard it will also have to be
taken down and rebuilt.
On the hill east of the mill there is
number of new dwellings being erected,
and the wind was so severe that a large
two-story house was knocked from off
the pillars and was almost completely
wrecked Just above this house the
chimney of another two-story house was
blown down and crushed the roof of the
house in and did considerable damage
to the building. A three room house in
the same locality was twisted around and
nearly thrown to the ground.
The Baptist Female College, which was
used here year ago was blown down and
the timber scattered in every direction.
This building was the property OF +. C.
Geer, who resides out beyond North Dur
ham.
A chimney at the residence of Mr. Geo.
E. Lougee. Sr., fell, crushing the roof
and doing considerable damage to the
house. one also fell at the residence of
DR.. L. w. Battle, damaging his residence.
Mr.. J. Prichard had a house which was
being erected almost completely de-
stroyed.
The storm was considered more severe
cut in the neighborhood of Trinity Col
nege. blowing down trees, barns and
doing other damage.
Mr.. Joe Moore, who resides out beyond
Trinity College, lost a very fine horse
by lightning striking his stable.
The family Of Geo. Stevens (col.), who
owns a house in the same neighborhood,
had the narrowest escape from death that
we have yet heard of. They were in the
house and the wind blew one end of it
almost completely away, but luckily no
one was hurt.
The Second Baptist Church steeple was
struck but very little damage was done.
Farmers from all sections of the coun-
ty report crops as being greatly damaged
by wind and hail.
A large number Of English sparrows
were blown from their nests last might
and beat to death by the hard rain which
fell here.
Rev. ]. f. Austin addressed a good
sized audience at the court house Thurs
day night, on the labor question. Not
withstanding the very inclement weather,
the people showed their interest in the
question by turning out. Mr. Austin is
State Lecturer of Organized Labor.
Mr. Austin was listened to with the
closest interest and attention by all pres
ent, and his remarks made considerable
impression on his hearers. He said he
was glad that there had not been any
trouble here. He contrasted the labor
problem CT the South with that OF the
North, and showed that the South has the
advantage in the respect that foreign
labor is not contended with.
1t is said that the discharges Of four
or five employees of the Erwin mill ex-
| pires today.
| Should the cotton mill officials per-
sist in the discharge of the employees, 1T
will cause some of the very best citizens
| of West Durham to have to leave, which
would be regretted very much by the
community.
The organization is gaining new mem
| bers at every meeting and they are con-
| fident that in short time, all or
greater portion of the mill operatives
will be members.