Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-07-08

t,on fair tonight and Tuesday; moderate tenn
persture light west to north winds.
~.e.>
ELECTRICAL SToRMs.-The electrical
storms OF the past forty-eight hours
have materially lowered the tempera'
ture and produced much more comfort
able conditions than had prevailed fol
the past two weeks. The storm Satur'
day evening was very severe, and was
accompanied by considerable thunder
and lightning. Some Of the flashes
were very vivid and the crashes OF
thunder following 10 their wake were
appalling, causing no little spprehen-
sion to nervous and psncky people.
Considerable rain fell, and at times II
came in binding sheets. 1t was, now
ever, very welcome, as 1t gave the
streets a decided ciesnsing, while the
electricity purified the atmosphere: a
cooling bre(z "a remained after the cloud
had passed away and continued its
sway throughout the night, hence all
whose slumbers bad previously been
disturbed by the hot wave enjoyed
much-needed sleep. During the con-
tinuance of the storm some damage re-
suited from the high wiDd and light
ming. Ia the city proper a number OF
trees were Frustrated aud branch' S
twisted from others. The locality
southwest OF the city suffered more
than any other section. During the
propress of the storm the house occu'
MED by Charles LOvelace and family,
on south Washington street, was blown
down the road about 100 feet, but, fortu-
pately. no one was hurt. At ST. Mary
Cemetery considerable damage was
done to monuments and tom0stones.
Some trees were Frustrated and limos
torn from Others. At the Alexandra
brickyard the tops of sevsral large
kilns were blown of, and some sheds
were blown down at the old brickyard
formerly operated By O'Neil q Lunt.
The damage in both CAGES was eight.
The small houses and corncribs in that
vicinity were also badly damaged.
Several small boats at Hunting Greek
were torn loose from their fastenings
and drifted for q considerable distance.
Shortly after the storm had partly sub
alded the entire fire department was
called out by the burning OF the porch
at the residence of w. p. Graves, 1913
south Fairfax street. The porch had
been struck by lightning. The flames
were put out with q chemical ex-
tineuisher OF the Relief Hook and Lad
der Truck Company. The occupants
of the house were unaware OF the TACT
that lightning had struck so near them
until about twenty minutes after the
fash. although some of them had been
shocked by it. After the fire had been
snbdned and an examination made 1t
was foundl that the electric fluid MAD
struck the north end OF the porch in
front of the house, had torn away part
of it's roof, bulged the window frames
and inner work OF the house, destroyed
some OF the plastering, passed to a near
by linden tree and fiually entered the
Ground. The bolt is also charged with
on unnatriotic act. In entering tue
room at the northeastern end OF the
building it turned the face OF d picture
of George Washington to the wall. Inc
republican fiagpole at Battery Rodgers
received a bolt of lightning, but was
not materially damaged. A house at
New Alexandria was damaged by the
lightning. and bolt struck the cupola
of Burgundy" the residence of Mr.
Thomas Walsh and set 1t on IRE. Ine
flames were extiDguished before muoh
damage had been done.
Although Saturday night usneree 10
more pleasant conditions yesterday II
was a hot. humid Sunday, with plenty
NJ sultriness in the air and warmtn 10
the wind. but the temperature was
much better than the swelterlng days
of last week. At the close OF the Gay
slate-colored clouds 10 the west ana
northwest and muttering thunder an
nouaced the approach OF another Wel-
come shower. IL WAS Gdveral hours
coming. during which time the heavens
were aglow with lightning. Rain De-
gan to fall about ten O'Clock ana con
tinued until after midnight. Ihere
was an incessant electrical display, and
some of the crashes of thunder awoke
many who had previously fallen asleep.
So far as learned the lightning caused
no damage here, but 10 Washington II
struck Ia several places. One bolt
passed down the side OF the chimney on
the site Of the old power house opposite
the electric railway station, another
struck the metallic roof over the en-.
trance to the National Theatre an0
one passed into the First Precinct
station house by coming into con-
tact with the telephone wires.
Shortly before midnight the south
western heavens became illumi'
mated oy bank of light which seemed
to have emanatets uesr Cameron run or
to the south OF it.. This morning 1t was
learned that lightning struck the barn
on Mr.. VIM. Rogers's farm, near Hsy
field, about five miles southwest OF this
city, and completely destroyed it to-
eether with the contents. The barn
contained about twenty tons OF hay, Q
lot OF cord wood, lumber and nearly all
the farming utensils. The property
was but partially insured. The report
that lightning had destroyed property
near Clouds mill was erroneous.