The age-herald., 1902-03-01
Big Search Light Blown from Roof of Auditorium
 Theatre
DARKCLOUDS BRING TERROR
Report That Powderly Was Wir-Swept Is Groundl ess-Trains From Att lanta to Montgomery
 Pass This Way.

IoiIIIlnBldHI GOHllnu6S lO Dt lIie CtHItI of severe electrical and wind storms. Dur ing the storm which blew up about 10 o'clock last night the large searchlight was blown from the roof of the Auditor ium Theatre The fastenngs were broken like so many frail threads, two huge feed wires were severed and the light came down with a crash. The loss will amount to $900, as given out by the management of the theatre.
 Floods are reported throughout the state, but the trains coming into Birm- ingham are coming in on schedule time. New York mails are delayed beyond At lanta.
 An Atlanta and West Point train from the east passed through Birmingham about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon over the Southern tracks for Mont gomery. A Washout near Charlottesville prevents the Atlanta and West Point tracks being used. train from Montgomery to At lanta will. also pass this way.
 During the twenty-four hours ending Thursday night at o'clock, nearly 2.O inches of rain fell, bringing the total rainfall for February up to 6. 46 inches. the greatest amount to fall In this month for the past ten years.
 Rumors of Tornado.
 The heavy clouds hanging over the city and vicinity all yesterday afternoon and last night reminded every one of those preceding the tornado last March. The lightning played from one bank of black rapidly moving clouds to another, follow ed by the angry rumble of thunder. Shortly after o'clock rumor was cur rent that tornado had struck in the neighborhood of Powderly. Unusually heavy black clouds travelling in that di- rection gave rise to the report, which was groundless. The wind rose here about that time and excitement was intense
 At that hour the wind was blowing In the city at the rate of about thirty-hve or forty miles an hour Little damage was done beyond blowing down few awnings and signs. A few drops of rain fell and then in an almost incredible short space of time the sky was clear and the sun shining. In a few minutes the clouds had again banked up and the wind was blowing hard Shortly after dark the sky again cleared but 1t was not long before another storm was announced by a peal of thunder.
 Storms Are General.
 The storm seems to be general over the country. The center lies in the Ohio valley and the lake regions and is nov ing slowly eastward. Low barometers are reported in all regions except the South west.
 Torrential rains are prevalent in Geor- gia, Alabama, Mississippi, the South At lantic states, the Mississippi valley, the Ohio valley and in the West.
 The following heavy precipitation Gin inches) was reported during the past twenty-four hours: Birmingham, 2.20; Parkesburg 112; Augusta. LOG; Charlotte, 110; Jacksonville, leo; Chattanooga. 1.7O; Lynchburg 1.D; Macon, 1.50; Atlan- ta, 3.62; Montgomery, 44O; Mobile. 1.76; Resaca, Ga, 12O; Rome, Ga, 1.34; Gads- den. Ala, 1.10; Wetumpka, Ala, 200; Tallahassee, Fla, 2.i6; Selma, Ala, 1.50; Canton, Ga, 2.5O.
 Many trains are tied up by washouts and tracks covered by water. Mobile has
  points to the north for the past thirty six hours by reason of a washout on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad short distance from Greenville. Three mail trains are said to be stalled at Mont gomery on account of the water.
 Locally the railroads have not suffered to any great extent. A few wires are reported down on the Birmingham Min eral branch of the ouisville and Nash vile. The Bell Telephone Company is having considerable trouble with its wires in the South and Southwest. None were up except those to Montgomery, the company being unable to get connec- ton over long distance phone with many places in that direction.
 February a Record-Breaker.
 February was record-preaker. More rain fell than during any previous Feb ruary in the past ten years, and the ay- craze temperature was several degrees lower than for that month in the same number of years The total rainfall was 664 inches, which Is 2.65 inches above the average for the past eight years. and in- cluding this year it Is 236 inches above the average. The rainfall for February since 1894 Is: 1894, 449; 1885, 3.56; 1896, 4.39; 1897, 403; 1S9S .O5; 1S99 4.44; 19OO 6.17; 1901, 3.64
 The mean average temperature for last month was fl degrees. It is the lowest in