The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-15
.Hiqh Wind. Heavy Rain
and Telegraph Ser
vice Impaired.
ELECTRIC WIRES
CUT UP ANTICS.
Becoming Crossed, They Cause
Flashes on Many Buildings in
Banking District and Cause
Great Excitement Seve-
raj Persons Shocked--Sc-
we're in North Carolina.

The storm OF rain and wind that struck
this city early last evening and reached
ity height between 9:aO and 10:3o o'clock
was one OF tile most terrific blows re-.
membered here for several years and
appears II TO have been general in East
sern North Carolina and Virginia, be-
ing worst on Hle Carolina coast. All
Tuesday night and yesterday the storm,
sof wind. accompanied BY torrents Of
rain. swept Eastern North Carolina, and
yesterday afternoon reached Virginia:
and swept up the coast extending In In,
land.
About $50 o'clock a, downpour OF rain
drenched those who had TO be out, and
the storm Increased in intensity and
fury an the minutes passed. with brief
respites. followed by fresh torrents
About $3.50 a terrific storm OF wind and
rain swept through the streets from west
to east, the rain being driven IN blindtng
sheets that made umbrellas useless and
5raincoats of. little value. All who Wei e
caught out in this blowing rain were
drenched TO the skin, and 80 fierce was
the wind accompanying the rain that
1t was difficult TO make any headway
against II. This wind and rain continued
for half an hour or more, after which
the wind lulled, but the rain continued
III great volume. ia,
Franks Of the Wires.
Thc velocity and force Of tho wind
dcmoralized the wire service Of several
OF the railways and badly hampercd the
telegraph offices. Tho fury of the wind
deranged the electric wires system In this
city and caused several heavily charged
wires to come In contact with others
and fire several buildings and charge tho
iron fronts SO that several persons were
severely shocked.
The first OF these alarms came in from
Box IL at Twelfth and Main Streets at
IN r. M. 1T proved to be due TO a
grounded wire outside of the old Dispatch
building. The barkeeper at Lawrencc's 8
cafe was severely shocked by stepping on
an Iron cellar grating just outside. The
arc lamp IN front OF the cafe was burn
Ing and the entire front was charged.
While the fircmcn and a large crowd OF
spectators were awaiting Developments
there a flash up the street at the corner
of Eleventh and Main caufed an alarm
and a rush In. that direction. It appeared
at first that the entire front OF the Mer-
chants National Bank building was
ablaze within, but the light was duo to
circuit was completed. &
The excitement lasted for some min
utcs there, when suddenly the wires began
to flash ;n,d sputterI In the building OF the
National Bank of Virginia. diagonally
across from the Merchants National. The
defect Was remedied there and the cn-
gincs went back to their stalls.
Drops His Lantern.
Just half an hour after midnight an
alarm came in from Eleventh and Main,
and tho engines, five of them. with two
trucks and several hose wagons, came
lunbsring down the streets asnin, fol-
lowed by Il swarming crowd. This time
tho alarm was due to q contact Of wires
|upon tho roof OF tho Merchants Bank
building, and It was thought the strnc'
ture was ablazo within. Firemcn with
tho chemical hose went into the BUILDING
and UP to the rooftf
Soon d light from lantern was seen
5nickcrlng on the roof and in another mo-
ment heavy VOICE loawlcd down. "Noth-
Ing tho matter up here" moment
later a fash of. blue and yellow Jared
inward and denied his statement, The
fash s,bsdcd and only tho light OF the
lantern aloft was visible. Suddenly the
man with the lantern touched tho spot
whence tho blue flame emanated and the
lantern shot upward and then fell down.
ward TO the pavement wit n crash, aC-
conpanicd by a cry from above, b Look
out down there The man was not
seriously injured by the shock.
Continued on Second Page,)
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