Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25
IN WAKE OF THE STORM
Rapid Weather Change Since
Yesterday Afternoon.
VERY HEAVY FALL OF RAIN
Decline of FL Degrees in Temperature
Follows.
SOME LOCAL SEWERS G0RGED
Lightning Strikes in Several Places in
City, but the Damage
Not Serious.
VERY HEAVY FALL OF RAIN
ONE LOCAL SEWERS GORGED

Rapid weather changes followed In the
wake of the heavy downpour Of rain which
visited this city yesterday afternoon. The
storm, accompanied by heavy peals OF
thunder and vivid lightning, was a record
smasher, and 1t also swept away the op-
pressive and enervating conditions which
had prevailed here for several days and
brought about an autumn GOODNESS last
evening and today.
The fall of rain, as measured in the
gauges at the weather bureau during the
seven hours from o'clock yesterday after
noon until o'clock last night, gave the phe-
nomenal record of 2.67 inches.
The temperature fell 81 degrees between
the hours of noon yesterday and o'clock
this morning, according to the weather
service thermometers The downtown tenn
perature fell II degrees in a remarkably
short time. Between 1:30 and o'clock
yesterday afternoon the mercury in the
official thermometers went down Is de-
grees.
The weather bureau announces that the
present unsettled and cool weather will
continue tomorrow with occasional showers
Reports from the adjacent country state
that some damage was done to growing
crops by the deluge Of water yesterday
afternoon. and that lightning struck build
ings in several places.
Yesterdays downpour in the city and
vicinity was one Of the most damaging to
roadways. parkings, bridges and property
adjoining streams that has recently visited
Washington. The water carried away the
dirt In many places, causing dangerous
holes and excavations, which make country
roads practically impossible. From all
parts of the District, in the city portion. as
well as the suburbs, came reports last
night and today of washouts and of trees
blown across sidewalks and streets.
After the storm yesterday Maj. Sylvester
issued special order for all policemen to
report the havoc made by the storm, so
that the damaged places could receive
prompt attention from the proper District
In their efforts to carry out this order.
The police of the Anacostia substation
learned that the bridge across Oxon
branch. on Wheeler road, in Prince George
county. Md, had been carried away by the
torrents that had grown out of that usually
placid stream. Lieut.. Peck, in charge of
the detective bureau, was notified, and he
in turn notified the Maryland authorities,
and they placed a Waterman there to warn
teams of the danger.
Lightning Strokes.
The lightning struck the electric wires
in Twining City, D. c., between Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Ridge road, and split nine
poles on which the wires were strung.
At the height of the storm yesterday
afternoon the lightning knocked off several
bricks from the top Of chimney at lat
]. E. Bennett, chief of the appointment d.
vision, Department of Agriculture. The
bricks crashed through skylight in the
roof of an adjoining house. No. 149 18th
street, occupied by Mr. Charles L. MERCER,
and the rain flooded the latter residence.
No one was injured
The branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad running to Shepards Point was
tied up after the storm last night because
section Of the road bed and track had
been washed away by the rain. A con-
struction gang was at once sent to the
scene and the damage was repaired.
Hillsdale Flooded.
The lower section of Hilsdale -was mum
dated for a time yesterday afternoon by the
waters, which swept into Stickfoot branch
from the elevated points surrounding the
town, causing the creek to overflow its
banks along Sheridan avenue and farther
down toward the river. There was lot of
damage done, especially in the vicinity of
Douglass Hall, where number of large
washouts occurred. The creek carried along
chicken coops, fowls and lumber, and in
one case a pig sly and it's two sQuealing
occupants were reported to have been whirl-
ed down to the river. Lumber was strewn
ing the branch were torn from their sup
ports and caught up in the waters.
The flood invaded the premises O.. a citi-
zen named Bradley, the kitchen of whose
house was partially inundated, the soil on
which the building was constructed being
washed out in part. Last night the apart
ment overhung the water, rendering the
position Of the occupants unsafe. They sent
for the police. but beyond suggesting that
the family take themselves to a place Of
more security the officers were unable to
take any action.
There was a dangerous washout at the
residence of a family named Stewart. at
the culvert, on Nichols avenue and like
one before the store of Mrs. Slade, on Mich
OILS avenue. The largest excavation was In
front of Douglass Hall, where hole seven
feet deep was washed around trolley pole
bearing electric light and feed wires The
pole was exposed to It's base and tottered
under it's burden of wires with the pass
ing of each street car.
Temporary Repairs Made.
The electric light company early sent men
there who made repairs of temporary ma
ture until they were able to resume work
today.
Policeman Ernest Brooks, stationed in the
Hil;sdale territory, had a plentiful supply
of red lights, which he secured in time to
have them swung over the dangerous places
along the streets in order to warn persons
travelling over the highways.
Two deep holes were washed along the
Shepards branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad between Twining City and
Anacostia. On the Anacostia road beyond
Twining City half a dozen electric light
poles were struck by the lightning. The
most serious report received by The police
at Anacostia was that of several of the
bridges between Maryland and the District
being washed away. The police had numer-
Gus Instances to report Of minor damage to
the roads through washouts.
Interferes With Rifle Practice.
The storm which broke over the rifle
range of the National Guard Of the Dis
trict of Columbia yesterday very seriously
interfered with the work of the brigade
rife team, which is camped there putting
on the finishing touches in preparation for
the matches to be held at Sea Girt, N. J.,