Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-09-29
An Eusntful Night.

Z
ed Alexandria, September ~, 1876, an
event which is still fresh in the minds OF
all who were awake at the time and ex-
perienced the effects of the death-deal-
ing and devastating element. Many now
living in Alexandra were not residents
of the city at that time. and numbers too
young to read or comprehend the weird
ness OF that eventiul night have since ar
rived at an age when they can form some
idea of the horror their elders expe-
rienced during the short time the hur-
ricane ragged. For the benefit of such
the following is reproduced from the
Gazette of September 80, 1896. 1t Will
be read also by those who witnessed the
devastation with equal interest
"Alcxandria passed through an expe-
renee last night which will be remem-
bcrcd 80 long as the present generation
ljves--a midnight scene creating con-
s.ernaiion aud panic which threw women
into bysterics, caused children to cry IN
alarm and strong men 10 stand aghast at
fine devastation Of the elements Death,
too WAS following in the wake Of the
disturbance, and in two instances at
least bricks and debris had crushed out
human life. The easterly wind OF yes
terdav had several times assumed a veloc-
ity which caused some apprehension,
and those who watched the antics OF
the weather shook their heads omi-
nously and predicted that before morn
ing meteorological disturbance would
sci in. Between nine and ten O'Clock
last night the wind was whistling through
the CITY at a velocity which portended
iuflment Of the prophecy, while irag-
ments of clouds were chasing each other
athwart the heavens. The wind came
in flaws. sway:ng the electric lights and
causing weird and dismal shadows to
dance in the streets and on the sides of
the houses. Some people retired at their
usual hours and few slept until long
after the disturbance had ceased, but 1t
was not so with tn e buzz of the popull-
ton. as BY eleven o'clock the roaring Of
the wind, the patter of the rain, the
creaking of signs, slamming of shutters
and the occasional tumble ola brick had
awakened the majority of people and
completely driven sleep from their eye
lids. Half an hour later the wind was
shifting. 1t passed from northeast to
east. then to southeast and to south from
which quarter it "blew great guns dur
ing which lightning flashed in the west.
1t was then that the work of destruction
began. Chimneys were falling, roofs
were being carried from houses, tin was
being rolled up as scrolls, walls crushed,
fences Frustrated, telegraph, telephone
and electric poles knocked down,
trees being uprooted and limbs aud
branches were sailing through the streets;
signs were being destroyed, shutters
twisted from their fastenings and win
dow sash blown in. 1t was a midnight
storm with death in its wake. Fathers
and mothers, frantic with alarm, were
running to upper rooms and picking mp
sleeping children and transporting them
to places Of safety, while the dismal bay
ing of dogs seemed to imply that the
brute creation was also alarmed at the
elements. Without was black darkness
The electric lights were out, and all that
could be seen were PROSTATE trees and
branches and limbs which filled streets
and wards. Eolus was still making
himself heard, and it seemed AS though
he had turned his entire cave loose upon
the hapless city. Fervent prayers were
being uttered for a speedy abatement ot
the storm, but it appeared to be ages be-
fore the fruits of the supplications were
manifest Sometime between twelve
and one o'clock those who had sat in
anxious vigil we're greatly relieved to see
that the wind was working around to the
southwest. The clouds were then COM
ing from that direction. BY one O'Clock
a bright star cleaned in the southern
heavens. and later others were twink
ling. The disturbance was over an the
relief afforded was indescribable. Peo'
ple then began to move about thestreets,
which were filed with PROSTATE trees,
huge rolls Of tin, tangled wire and other
debris, for the purpose of ascertainlng
the damage wrought and to afford relief
to those who had been the greatest SUI
lerers. Most Of them carried lanterns
They proceeded from street to street and
/ it was not long before the victims of the
storm had been discovered. While the
storm was at its height balls Of fire were
running along the trolley wires Of the
electric railway in this city, and in som(
cases. it is said, fell to the ground. The
electric current was playing other freaks
upon the wires, and many people became
alarmed"
IWhiIe the devastation was great
there were but two fatalities WIN. ID
Stewart. an old and well known citizen
was crushed to death by a falling wal
at his home on Cameron street, between
Pitt and St. Asaph, and Mrs. LOUIS
Holt lost her life in a similar manner a
her home on north Peyton street ex
tended.
Trouble in Family.
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