The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-14
TERRIBLE STORM
CAUSES DAMAGE
LIGHTNING AND RAIN WREAK
HAVOC IN DlSTRlcT-cELLARS
ARE FLUoDEo-TELEGRAPH AND
TELEPHONE COMPANIES SUFFER

One of the most destructive rain and
thunder storms that has visited this dis
trict recently occurred yesterday after
noon beginning about o'clock and last
ing several hours. The early part of the
afternoon was close and sultry and the
clouds gathered rapidly until shortly after
o'clock when the rain began to fall in
large drops
In a few minutes everything grew dark
and the rain came down in great sheets.
At the same time zig-zag bolts of light
ming shot through the sky and there was
continuous roar of thunder coming at
times with terrible crash and rolling
away into the distance, only to be follow
ed Immediately by another binding hasn
from the inky sky.
The brilliant electric display ended some
time before the rain ceased falling but
rot before it had done considerable dam
age TO the telegraph and telephone COM
panies and to various dwellings
Manager Turnbull of the Southern Bell
Telephone company stated last night that
about five hundred of his telephones had
been put out of commission and that
slight damage had been done to the ca
bles. He stated that the storm was the
most destructive one which the company
had ever experienced and that extra line
men would be set to work at once re-
pairing the damages and getting in shape
those phones which were put out of ser
vice He expressed regret that the storm
should have come at such time, stating
/ ha aod or a
Its line in shape and that its improve
ments would be delayed some ten days.
The Peoples Home Telephone company,
and the Postal and the Western Union
telegraph also suffered from the electrical
discharges but not to any great extent.
A cable box of the Postal on Morris ave-
nue. and Twentieth street caught fire but
was quickly extlnguished by the fire de-
partment which was called to the scene.
The chemical engine from Station No.
was called to Smithfeld about o'clock
in vain attempt to save from the flames
which had been originated by the light
ming, two barns and a stable belonging
to N. H. Sayers, the hauling contractor
The residence of Mr.. Sayers was not dam
aged, but his other loss amounted to
something like $1,000. Word was received
in town last night that Hollis Bennett of
Pratt City had been badly injured by a
bolt of lightning which passed through the
roof of his house and struck him as he
was sitting in a chair He is said TO have
been unconscious for some time, and was
at first thought to be dead.
The store of J. T. Handy at Ensley was
also badly injured by the lightning. The
top story, which is occupied by the Odd
Fellows, was struck and caved in, fall
ing to the joists of the first story. The
stock of Mr.. Handy was damaged consid-
erahly by the rain which fell subsequent
to the caving In of the roof
In addition to these instances, many
dwelling houses in the district were in
jured, while several persons were shocked
more or less severely.
Much damage was also done by the rain
which fell continuously for about three
hours. Many gardens were beaten down
and ruined and 1t is expected that the
truck farmers in the neighborhood will
report losses. Many cellars in the lower
parts of town were flooded with water
but no great damage from this cause has
been reported as yet.
Near Rising station on the South Ems
lev car line. the tracks were flooded for
several hours, the water being the highest
known in that neighborhood for several
years. Many houses were filled with wa
ter and quite number of cottages are
said to have been moved from their foun-
dations and thrown out of plumb.
1t is thought that when reports come IN
from surrounding districts and the dam
age can be estimated with any degree oil
accuracy. that the total will be up in the
thousands.