The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-12
Carbonda1e Department.
A STORMY NIGHT.
Much Damage Done to Trees, Wires
and Phones Sunday.


Sunday night and early Monday
morning will probably go down in local
chronology as 1.-THE night of the big
wind" for from the coming down of
darkness until the going away of the
same a mighty avalanche of moist
wind was hurled through the streets of
this city, at times approaching the
velocity of "a hurricane. Sleet, snow,
hail and rain accompanied old Boreas
,, on his hasty journey and the noise Of
the hail at times on window panes
aWoke the soundest sleepers.
Considerable damage was caused
throughout the town. Telegraph, tele-
phone and electric wires generally
were the focus for the fury of the
storm, with an occasional crash as
some stately tree was crushed beneath
the weight of the tempest. Wires all
| over the city were torn from the poles
| and becoming crossed. played havoc
with the instruments within the vari-
ou5 buildings.
In the city building all the telephone
instruments were burned out and the
building narrowly escaped destruction
from fire. In city Solicitor Stuart's
office the marks of the result of crossed
wires We're visible to Il great extent.
The wires leading to the Carbondale
Telephone company's phone were melt
ed, and the wall from the phone to the
ceiling is blackened from the blaze.
! The top of the phone box is badly
| burned. the plaster walls alone saving
the building from destruction probably.
The roof Of the building was also badly
| damaged, the states being wrenchcd
| loose in large patches.
The occupants of the Harrison House
had u sleepless night. \ continual cleo
| triCal display in the front of the house
| for an hour or more kept the bOarders
! up fearing a Conilagration. Most of
| the boardcrS We're dressed and ready
| for a hasty night
The telephone lines We're In bad
| shape. the two companies having about
| $50 phones out of commission in the
early morning They were repaired as
| quickly as the linemen could get to
| them The Postal Telegraph had but
one line left, the direct one tn New
/ York. The electric lights were all out
| after 3 a. IN, but today the company
| expects to have them all in shape. on
| South Main street the tin roof on the
/
off. The chimney on the house of Clar-
| cnce Rose. on Spring street, was de-
| molished utterly, and other Chimneys
| partially. There We're three trees blown
| down ON Terrace street, one on North
! Main street and one on Brooklyn
! street. The fall of one of these was
| attended with u great deal of excite
! ment.
! This tree stood in front of the home
| of Mrs Juliet \. Reynolds, of 3S Ter
| race street. 1t fell with a crash at 2.lJ
a. M, and in falling struck the house
across the street owned by W. w.
Watt and occupied by Mrs. T.. =. Webb.
| AS 1t was hurled by the wind across
| the street 1t struck two electric light
| wires, crossing them, and instantly
| there was a great flash of fire. The
| inmates of the house were awakened
! by the crash of the falling of the tree
| and seeing the great blaze outside
| thought instantly that the house was
on fire. Cries of fire and the sobbing
| of children added to the confusion and
| the fourteen inmates of the house pre-
pared for instant flight. The fire from
the crossed wires lighted up the whole
! neighbOrhOod and tenants of other
| houses We're also in sort of panic
| one lady living several doors above
| Terrace street faintng away. The
alarm lasted for several minutes, when
the wires became separated, an inves-
| tigatiOn was made and the frightened
| ones quieted.