The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-16

AS was generally recognized the heat
In this city was terrific yesterday and
the conditions were perfect for the Dig
storm thar reached here about O'Clock
in the afternoon. The storm. when
was somewhat in the nature of mini
ature cyclone approached rapidly out
of the northwest, great black clouds
menacng the city. After a few bril-
liant flashes of lightning there was
sudden sweep OF wind and then the
storm burst. Hail as large almost as
marbles pounded the young leaves OIL
the trees, beat down the early vegeta-
bes and flowers and mercilessly pelted
pedestrians and horses. The fierce
wind stripped off awnings, blinds and
signs and hurled them across the
streets. Trees were uprooted and many
of the fine elms on the east side OF the
river were stripped of big branches.
The Lederer building on Stewart
street has a large water tank on its
roof, and the cover of this, weighing
about 1000 pounds, was torn on and
carried across to Pine street, about 500
feet, where ii was driven into the
front OF private residence, de-
moAshing the porch, front stairway
and plunging through to the parior,
badly damaging the furniture and bric-
a-brac. The family was away at the
time, hence there were no fatalities.
The large vane on the lantern of the
big dome OF the Providence Gas COM
pany's gasometer on Globe street was
blown down. At Fox Point a carpen-
ter shop was blown over and demol-
ished.
WORK OF THE WIND.
At the rear end of the building on
South Main and Hopkins streets, occu-
pied by the offices OF Brown a. Ives and
the Lonsdale company, stood magni-
ficent horse chestnut tree, which shad-
ed the windows OF the offices which had
been occupied by John Nicholas Brown
and Harold Brown. The former was
buried last week and the latter Mon
day, and yesterday afternoon the big
tree whicn they had so often admired
was uprooted, thrown down and
ruined. On Exchange Place three ex-
press wagons were blown over and
horse was knocked down by the wind.
On Broadway tree fell and crushed
a carriage which contained a man, who
was somewhat hurt.
CARRIAGE BLOWN OVER.
About 4:15 o'clock H.. b, Hathaway,
who lives at No. As Wilson street. was
driving near Turks Head when
blast came through Exchange street
and overturned his carriage. Officers
Bates and Hanley came to his assist
ance and, after the wagon had been
righted, Mr.. Hathaway was able to
proceed on his wEy. A number of
horses took fright at the vivid light
ming and ran away, but no serious
damage. was done. A canvas sign from
a .1.a 4. .t,.or
fell on one OF Sherwood's Ice carts, and
the driver was thrown into the cart,
but was not injured. The wind played
havoc In all rireotions and in every
section OF the city trees were blown
DOWN and big limbs were torn off
others. The frames Of four new houses
were torn down. scuttles were blown
and In one case large bill board on
Exchange Place was carried away.
HEAVY RAIN, BIG HAILSToNEs.
In addition to the terrific wind the
deluge OF water came like the opening
of flood gates. The rain actually came
In sheets and hailstones, almost as
large as walnuts. were hurled against
the windows with great force and fury.
Westminster street. which had been full
OF shoppers and other pedestrians a
short time before, became deserted.
and only few lonely persons who
We're obliged to be there to look after
horses remained yifteen minutes du-
ration and the rain stopped as sudden
ly as II began, the sky cleared partially
and the sun almost thrust it's rays
through the thin layer OF clouds that
remained.
There was more or less Inconvenience
and interruption to street car travel,
and the most serious was on the Cres-
cent Park route. During the progress