Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-13
ELECTRIC WIRES TANGLED
Lights All Out and Cars and Phones
Stop Working.
TREES AND POLES TORN UP
Boats on River Have Narrow Es-
capes-Damage Largely Re-
paired by Quick Work.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

/
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 49, 1905
companied by a heavy electrical display,
companied by a heavy electrical display
swept this city at els o'clock yesterday
evening. throwing down and carrying off
| poles and wires.
Windows were broken, fences carried
away and signs and awnings were swept
in all directions. There were no casual
ties
The hail which accompanied the storm
was small and fell for only about five
minutes. There was an unusually heavy
downpour of rain following the high
wind, which last an hour.
Trees in all sections of the city were
uproOted. Many were snapped off at
the trunk like twigs. Old landmarks and
valuable shade trees were destroyed. On
every street in the city large limbs were
blown from the trees In all directions.
Wires Tangled Up. >
The most serious damage done by the
storm was to the wires of the various tele-
phone and telegraph companies. Tele-
phone and telegraph wires became
crossed. many being Frustrated. For q
time there was imminent danger from
live wires.
At several places fires were threatened.
The heavy cable and wires leading into
the Southern Railway Companys local
offices at King and Alfred streets became
crossed with other wires. There was an
unusual electrical display which did not
subside until the storm fully abated.
At the store Of William P. Woolls Il
Son, Wolfe and Royal streets, a crossed
| wire caused a slight fire. 1t was extin-
guished without the aid of the fire de-
partment.
Every electric light went out. The city
for a time was in total darkness. About
1 O'Clock this morning the majority of
the lights were turned on. the trouble
having been rectified.
Wythe White, manager of the Southern
Bell Telephone Company, said this morn
ing his company had about one hundred
crossed wires. caused by running through
trees. A large number of telephones were
put out of commission. Wires on many
streets. he said, were down. A force of
men was put to work. AT 10 o'clock this
morning most of the phones were in
working order. and the wires had been
again placed in position.
The Capital City telephone line also had
a number Of wires down in all parts of
the city. They. too. soon were at work.
Today most of the wires had been placed
In position.
The Alexandria Electric Light Company
kept a force of men on all night repair
ing burned out wires and putting wires
Ddck IN pOSltlOn.
Cars Stop Running.
The Washington. Alexandria and Mount
Vernon Electric Railway Company s
wires on part of the Mount Vernon end
Of the line. were Frustrated Traffic was
considerably delayed. Several poles were
blown down on that end. There was no
trouble reported on it's line between this
city and Washington. The wire opposite
st. Mary's Catholic Church was broken
when a large tree fell against it.
The Western Union Telegraph and Tel
ephone Company had about twenty wires
down at Calvert. Several poles near the
union passenger railway station were
blown down. -
ployes Of the various telephone. electric
and telegraph companies went to work
after the storm. BY midnight consider
able Roadway had been made. Labors
were completed today.
The frame electric station of the WASH
ington. Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Electric Railway Company at Spring Park
was blown a distance of several feet and
overturned. Several people who had
sought shelter beneath it ESCAPED. Among
them was John Norris alias Happy
Jack" Jack said this morning that the
others escaped. but he sustained q sore
leg.
A roof of frame tenement on Franklin
street Wat hIteo Dy the storH: Al Luna
Park the fencing around the lagoon was
blown down. No other damage was done
at the park
A number of small craft on the river
front were more or less damaged dis
abled steam launch had to be towed to
shore by Alexandrians at the dyke below
this city small sail boat said to be
the property of Washingtonians. sank at
the wharf at Fort Foote. A number of
people in small boats on the river front
had narrow escapes from drowning.
So far as can be learned the damage
done In Alexandra and Fairfax counties
consisted mainly in the uprooting of trees.