The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-14
RAINS AND LIGHTNING
PLAYED HAVOC IN SAVANNAH FOR
A WHILE.
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM STRUCK.
GILT BALL ON MAIN TOPMAST
HURLED TO DECK OF A BARGE
ALONGSIDE.

Panic in a Restaurnnt-TeIep
Wires Struck and Diners Were
Frightcned-TrOIIeY Cars Were
Disabled and Streets Were Flood
ed and Traffic Seriously Impeded.
Storm Played Havoc with TeIe-
graph and Telephone Wires-Fair
and Warm weather Promised To-
day.
A severe thunder storm broke over
Savannah at 2:4O o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The results are two peo-
pie killed, the mast of a ship struck
and much other damage by the heavy
rain in many sections.
freak of lightning played havoc
with the gilt ball that crowned the
main topmast of the City of Birming
ham. The ball was torn from the top
mast and the topmast itself was shiv-
cred by the bolt.
The Birmingham was lying at her
dock at the Ocean Steamship Com
pany's wharves. The ball at the top
mast serves the double purpose o. pro-
tecting the mast and furnishing a con-
venient method of reeving the flag hall
lizards. The lightning tore it from the
mast and flung it far over the side of
the ship. The ball is foot or more
in diameter and weighs perhaps four
teen or fifteen pounds. 1t crashed a
hundred feet or more to the deck of
barge that lay alongside the Birming
ham and pounded its way through the
deck to the hold.
The shivering of the topmast and
the hole in the deck of the barge made
up, by a strange good fortune, the only
damage done by the bolt. The mast
itself was not injured and nobody was
hurt
Two trolley cars on Fortieth street
We're disabled and a. blockade was
caused.
At Whitaker street and Oglethorpe
avenue the sewers were choked and
the water rose until the street was
entirely submerged. 1t was impossible
to get through and trolley car was
held up as the motorman was afraid
that his motor would be blown out if
he attempted to ford the flood. The
car was stalled until the water had
subsidized. The only thing visible on
Oglethorpe avenue above the water
WAS llIIle pdLcn OF the street, winch
appeared like an island.
In many other parts of the city the
water rose over the sidewalks Walk
ing was out of the question and cabs
and other vehicles had the call. The
flashes of lightning during the storm
were frequent and vivid. The first
shower of the day began at a few
minutes before o'clock. This was not
very severe and only lasted for short
while. The clouds then separated and
it looked as though the day
| would be clear. At, 2:30
| o'clock, heavy black clouds obscured
the sky and in few minutes the storm
| broke, with thunder and lightning and
| sheets of rain.
In a restaurant on Congress street
many had gone to dine before the
storm began. While they were wait
| ing a heavy crash of thunder startled
| everybody. 1t was quickly followed by
| flash of light in the room and a
| short, sharp report, like the crack of
a revolver. The people at the tables
| jumped to their feet and small panic
ensued. The noise and flash came
from the telephone.
During the day 1872 inches of rain
fell, which is very much in excess OF
the normal precipitation.
Hundreds of people who had planned
excursions to the resorts remained at
home on account of the storm, but
about 800 went to Tybee. At that place
the full force of the storm was not felt
and there was very little rain and
| lightning.
Many telephone and telegraph wires
were broken down by the storm. Fair
and warmer weather is predicted for
| tO.daV