Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-04
STORM VERY SEVERE
Washington Gets a Ducking Without
Advance Notice.
LIGHTNING KILLS Two PERSONS
Two Others, Children, Seriously In
jured by Electric Shock
d A NJ AGE TO ROPERTY

The storm that broke with but little
warning over Washington Saturday after
Eoon was one of the most severe in point of
rainfall ever known here. At the weather
bureau a fall of 3.4S inches was recorded
and the precipitation was not as heavy IN
that section as it was in the eastern part of
the city. The sewers We're inadequate to car
~ off the rush of waters from the deluge and
cellars Were flooded in streets hitherto
strangers to such visitations f street cell
lars being among these. The track of the
City and Suburban road near lexington
was washed out for some distance, and in
lie Drot Park the conduits of the Anacos-
tia and Potomac railroad We're completely
cicgged with sand washed in through the
slot.
The storm brought about a postponement
of what was to have been the first concert
of the season at the White House by the
United States Marine Band
An electric car on the Forest Glen line
was completely disabled by the storm.
which necessitated sending another car to
haul the damaged one back TO the sheds
at BrightWood.
The Rainfall.
Nearly three and one-half inches of water
fell Saturday afternoon during the storm.
and damage to the extent of many thou
sands of dollars resulted. The business
streets were crowded with shoppers when
the storm started, and soon afterward.
VIXEN the departing closed, thousands of
others found themselves uEable to start on
the homeward way. Some of the street
cars in the city We're compelled to stop
running. and the pedestrians who failed to
get on the cars early crowded the stores
and sought shelter under awnings.
When the storm finally abated and the
cars started the vehicles were crowded to
the utmost of their capacity. This condi-
ton of affairs continued for several hours.
In all sections of the city sewers We're
obstructed and many cellars were flooded.
and in the county the agricultural lands
suffered considerably. The low lands We're
covered with water. ard the crops We're
badly damaged.
There was one child killed by the light
ming in Stantontown. just beyond Anacos-
tia, and two others were injured. Francis A.
Bowman colored. seven years old, was
killed, while his brother Thomas and his
sister Sarah. five and four years. respec-
lively. We're burned and otherwise injured.
The children had become frightened by the
storm and they went together to room
on the second floor.
Death Was Immediate.
The parents heard the screams of the
little ones at intervals, but just after a
heavy clap of thunder. which Jared the
Bowman house, well neighborng
buildings, the children became quiet. Part
of the house had been torn away by a bolt
of lightning. When the parents of the chill
dren went upstairs to make an investiga-
ton, they found Il sad condition of affairs.
physician was at once called to the
house and the two injured children We're
soon restored. but Francis had been killed
instantly. The others, it is believed, will
recover.
The lightning struck the barn of Mai. r.
S. Lacey at Balston. Va. ard killed Geo.
lob
walking in the driveway. Hyson's hat was
torn into shreds. yet there was no sign or
mark of the lightning upon his head
body.
AT the department store of Woodward
& Lothrop considerable damage was done
by the flooding of the basement. So deep
was the water in this part of the building
that it became necessary to summon a
fire engine to the building to pump out the
water. Along Missouri avenue and in the
vicinity of the Baltimore and Potomac
depot the streets were under water. and
ferry system was inaugurated in order that
persons might reach the depot to
leave trains scheduled to depart
before O'Clock. In the vicinity of North
Capitol and o streets the water was about
three feet in depth in some places. and
many houses were damaged.
Because of the flooding of the plOw pit
on the Mount Vernon electric line. near the
Long bridge. passengers on these cars We're
greatly delayed. The electric lights at the
National Museum We're eXtinguShed as
they were also in other government and
private buildings. and trouble with the
perienced.
Lower Floors Flooded.
Water backed up in the sewer near 18th
and H streets and the lower floors of sew
eral buildings We're left covered with mud
and water. A new apartment house near
the Capitol was badly damaged.
In some of the higher sections of the
city the sewers were unable to carry off
the immense amount of water, with the
result that the streets were flooded. The
police reports show a number of places in
which damage to the extent of from so
to $1,0U had been done Williams phar-
macy, 9th and F streets. was damaged to
the extent of $1,000. while j. ]. Mohans
place at Sd and @ streets suffered about the
same amount. Besides the damage done
to buildings, the trees and shrubbery in
the parks suffered. In some of the parks
the small plants which had recently been
planted were washed out of the ground.
Several big trees were struck by lightning
and large branches broken. The chimney
on the house of James Green, near st.
Eizabeth's Asylum. was also struck by
lightning The house was considerably
damaged.
Reports made by the mounted police
show that the county roads were washed
and in some places dangerous holes were
left These places will be repaired as soon
as possible. Many sidewalks in the subur-
ban villages will also have to be replaced.
Harry Gnskfns' Experience.
peculiar incident in connection with
the storm Saturday afternoon had for its
central figure Harry Gaskins. a stalwart
youth of seventeen, son Of Samuel A. Gas
kins of Both street northwest The young
man, attired in his fathers great coat. had
gone into the yard to secure an object left
there before the rain began. His mother,
standing in the doorway, had just warned
him to keep away from peach tree in the
yard when. as he was STOPPING to pick up
the object. binding flash of lightning
came, followed by loud peal of thunder.
Immediately after the flash, the young
man, still in a STOPPING posture, struggled
to the door and fell unconscious at his
mothers feet. A half hour elapsed before
he was restored to consciousness.
Upon examination 1t was found that his
back had been burned as If scaided 1t
was stated yesterday morning that he had
almost recovered, but his body was yet full
of electricity. which was apparent to the
touch, and his muscles were contracted at
intervals as If he were connected with a
battery.
The Estimate of Damage.
In addition to the damage done to the |
places mentioned, the police report gives |
list showing the amount done at a number |
Of business houses and dwellings This list |