Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-01
ANGER OF STORM KING
Opens Fire With Heavy Artillery
on This City.
ROAR OF NATURES BIG GUNS
One Assault Yesterday, Another Early
This Morning.
TREES SWISHED AND BOWED
Several Small Panics-Fires Caused
by Lightning-Capitol Was a
Conspicuous Target.
TREES SWISHED AND BOWED

The storm king opened fire with his heavy
artillery this city late yesterday after
noon and again between 2 and o'clock
this morning. The thunderous assaults were
accompanied by heavy deluges of rain. Vivid
bolts were hurled through the atmosphere
and the roar of natures big guns caused
window panes to rattle and buildings TO
tremble. as though the city was In the
throes of an earthquake. Lightning struck
several structures, a number of trees were
uprotted telephone wires were tangled and
disconnected and other damage caused.
The first outbreak was noted soon after
o'clock yesterday afternoon. 1t was pre-
ceded by a yellowish haze which gave trees
and buildings a sort of CHASTITY hue Then
came the heavy storm clouds. tumbling and
ehurning angrily. In a few moments the
rain descended in great volumes causing
the cutters to run with swollen streams.
Gusts of wind accompanied the fall and the
trees swished and bowed in the face OF the
gales
Washington's numerous colony of spar
rows was almost depopulated of its young
birds. The nests on boughs and in caves
were destroyed by the downpour and the
bowling blasts. and thousands of young
birds were blown to the roadways and pave
ments, where they later became the prey of
vagrant cats. The chattering of the mother
birds they witnessed the destruction OF
their young was pathetic picture of the
storm.
Half an Inch of Rain.
In less than a half hour yesterday there
was a fall of half inch of rain. At times
the fall was in the nature of cloudbursts,
and the streets of the city received a need
ed flooding and cleansing.
So heavy and terrifying was the storm
while at its height that several small panics
were caused in office and other buildings
where there was a congestion of humanity
and in two instances, II is reported
girls ran screaming from the structures into
the streets, no doubt fearing repetition of
such disaster befeil San Francisco.
While the rain was coming down in sheets
and torrents a brilliant flash of lightning
accompanied by a terrifying crash of thun-
der, appeared to come from the skies imme-
diately over the White House. 1t seemed to
descend earthward in southeasterly direc-
ton and struck the cornice of Chase's The
alter, tearing a part of Ii away. blaze of
fire followed the contact of the thunderbolt
and an alarm was turned in. The fire en-
gines dashed to the scene of the small con-
hagration and the frefighters CLIMBED 10 the
roof, while the binding torrents of rain fell
and extinguished the flames before more
than $50 damage had resulted.
~ ZtSZdS IdSH OF lSHtDllS IN northeast
Washington descended upon the apartment
house of Lewis Flemer at 70f Maryland
avenue northeast 1t was accompanied by
4 heavy explosion in the clouds and caused
q panic in the neighborhood. Part of the
cupola of tn ebuilding was torn away and
Il lively blaze was started. The heavy
rain acted as an auxiliary to the fire de-
partment and the blaze was soon extin-
guished, after damage to the extent of
s15 had resulted. The inmates of the house
were badly frightened, ii is said, by the
crash and the bright blush illumination
which followed the thunderbot.
Bolt Strikes Senate Stables.
Another bolt struck the Senate stables
at Delaware avenue and C street north
east The atmospheric electricity from the
clouds ran along a wire. burning away the
10 sulation and reached the woodwork of the
table, where a blaze was started. The
cry of fire was raised and the firemen
Of the nearby company responded and ex-
tinguished the flames after about 81 dam
age had resulted. The fence over which
the electric wire extended was partly
burned.
A bolt descended on Ohio avenue and
passed into the home of Ella Henson. col
ored by way of the door, and gave her
shock that she says she will never forget.
After entering the house and shocking the
woman the electric fash passed out into
the atmosphere again by way of the CHM
Il
ton and a strong odor of sulphur. The
woman, who was only partially stunned by
the shock, rushed out upon the sidewalk
screaming, and fell unconscious. She was
hurried to the Emergency Hospital, and at
first IL was thought she had been seriously
injured. But she soon recovered and re-
turned to her home.
The big white Capitol building on the hill
formed conspicuous target for the heavy
artillery OF the skies and one of the cleo
ct % he IA T.
terng one OF the skylights over the press
gallery. This resulted in the gallery and
an adjoining apartment being flooded with
water 1t is said that little damage re-
suited. however as the water was quickly
mopped up.
Damage to Trees and Sh5ILlery
Reports received today state that great
damage resulted to growing crops and to
trees and shrubbery In the suburban places
about the city, owing to the severity of the
storm Many trees were stripped of their
foliage while fences were blown down,
windows shattered and other damage done.
Many trees We're injured in the city and
crews OF the parking commission were busy
today clearing away the debris of the
storm. Lieut.. Daley of the ninth precinct
reports number of trees blown down in
the northeast section.
From Brightwood and the Soldiers
damage accomplished there by the fury or
the disturbance Shrubbery was destroyed
and hundreds of sparrows were blown from
their nests and perches and dashed against
buildings and killed
The storm was particularly severe along
the Canal road and the creeks north of the
city were swollen and angry. Similar re-
ports were received from Cabin John
bridge, from Congress Heights and other
nearby localities.
During the storm between and 3
o'clock this morning with its crashing
thunder. which aroused many people from
slumber. IS OF an inch of rain fell in less
than an hour. Referring to the two storms
Pro-. Edward b. Garriott of the weather
bureau said today that while they were
local, still stormy conditions had been gen.
eral In this section of the country. He
added that the storm clouds would clear
away today and the outlook is for a nice
day tomorrow.
DRIVERS IN CUSTODY.