The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-05
Falling Awnings Break Glasses
in Many Windows
MANY ELECTRIC WIRES CUT
Fruit Stands Are Upset and Baskets Of
Fruit Float in the Cutters.
street Cars Stopped
BY Hail.


July was brought to sudden termin-
alton at o'clock yesterday afternoon
by violent wind and rain storm. For
twenty minutes the city was Hooded by
continuous downpour and the streets were
swept by large hailstones driven by a
heavy wind. The total damage caused by
the storm is probably $4,000
The direction OF the wind was from
the west and the cars going west along
Second avenue were brought to stand
still by the violence of the hail which
blew In the open windows, and for a
few moments during the height OF the
wind, the motormen had to take refuge
inside the car. The conductors were
kept busy shutting windows TO protect
the passengers.
Hundreds of awnings throughout the
city were blown down. and many fruit
stands and news stands whose wares are
kept on the sidewalks suffered more or
less damage. Some OF the baskets of
fruit were blown off and foated down the
overlooking cutters.
Second avenue at the corner of Nine
teenth street was flooded and the fruit
stand on this corner, owned by John
stachus, was damaged to the extent of
$50.
A Heavy Loser.
The greatest sufferer from the storm
was the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power Cempory whose loss is estimated
by ]. NJ. Bradley superintendent of the
electric department at $4,000. Six cedar
posts holding the main feed wires run
ming from the electric power plant on
Powell avenue along Eighteenth street
towards First avenue were broken down.
These poles were laden with dozens of
the feed wires and running at right an
giles to the path Of the storm they were
blown down, being unable to withstand
the force OF the wind. The six poles
snapped off about ten feer from the
ground End the wires fell across the
tracks of the Louisville and Nashville
ond Alabama Great Southern and other
reads and they had to be cut so as to
allow the passage Of trains. Immediately
after the storm the electric company
started force of men to work removing
the WI which presented a scene of
Wild confusion. They were soon cut
however, and removed, some of thcm
being pulled cut of the way In great
tangles by locomotives which were at
tached to the wires by chains.
The loss to the electric company will
be chiefly in labor spent In repairing the
work and in loss Of receipts A force of
enc hundred hends was at work all night
repairing the damage ard the company
expects to have nearly all wires re-
placed by tonight.
Louis Saks' Losses.
The greatest individual looser by the
storm was Louis saks. who estimates
his damage at $1,000. Three of the large
plate glsss windows on Nineteenth
street were broken by the awnings COM
ing loose, and the iron supports striking
tho glass. These window glasses cost $3.50
each. A smaller glass in an upper window
was also broken. The contents of the
three windows were badly damaged by
water. They were filled with expensive
clothing and summer dresses Every avn
ing on this side Of Mr.. Saks' store was
blown down. and In fact every awning on
tho east side Of Nineteenth street between
First and Second avenue was blown
down.
Other Losses.
One of the freaks CT the lightning
which darted here and there during the
storm was to knock off a flag pole on
the store CT Loveman. Joseph & Loeb. No
other damage was done to this building.
Drenner g. Co. on Second avenue had
a window glass broken by falling avn
ing, and the contents of the window,
which were lace goods. were damaged by
the rain. The less Is about $500.
OF the $50 flags in the Woodward office
building on the First avenue side nearly
every one was blown away.
A window pane was broken in the store
OF Chalifoux g. Co., entailing a loss of
about SEQ.
Street Cars Stopped.
For four hours Immediately following
the storm all the street car lines west
of Nineteenth street on the north side
of the city were unable to run on ac-
count of the feed wires across the rail-
road at Eighteenth street being broken
No power of any kind was obtainable
for time In this section of the city.
either for lights, running machinery or
street cars. The car lines affected were
Powderly, Owenton, Fountain Heights
and the special cars to the fair grounds
where the Elks were giving their cele-
bration.
Slight damage was done to the roof
of the Linn Iron Works situated at the
corner of Fourteenth street and First
avenue. A number of window glasses
were broken in the residences In the
neighborhood of the court house and sew
eral trees were blown down.
At the fair grounds large tree was
broken off several feet above the ground.
When the crowd saw this 1t began leav-
ing the grand stand. fearing the wind
would blow 1t over.
Many of the members of the police force
worked for twentyAfour hours on account
of the day and the large crowds In the
city.
The fireworks display at the Fair
Grounds last night had to be cut down
more than half on account of the rain