The Washington herald., 1910-10-06


switch at 6:s0 o'clock last night, and
Washington was plunged into deep, inky
darkness Just as she was preparing TO
embark upon the evenings gayety. For
the next hour and half the entire city
was compelled 10 resort to gas and tai
low dips. and the streets presented q
gloomy. funereaI spectacle.
This is how it happened: The 5,oOO-kilo-
watt turbine at the Washington Railway
and Electric COmpany's power house az
Benning developed a short circuit. cut
electric lights and stopping traffic on all
the company's lines, as well as on the
Washington. Baltimore and Annapolis
interurban.
The lights went out: they spared no
one except those hotels and buildings
having power plants OF their own or pro-
vided with gas Save for the flashing
lights from automobiles and occasional
store fronts Illuminated with gas, the
thoroughfares were black as Dante's In
ferno. The sudden cessation Of traffic
gave one the impression he was passing
through a city OF the dead.
short Circuit Repaired.
4 crew Of skilled electricians and ma
chinists worked hard at the power house
and managed 10 temporarily repair the
damage caused BY the short circuit by
s o'clock. Otherwise the theaters would
have missed a night The cause Of the
short circuit has not been learned. Of
fcials say il probably viii be several
weeks before the damaged turbipe IS re-
pared. although no further interruption
OF traffic is anticipated.
Ia many hotels. restaurants. lunch
rooms, saloons. moving picture shows,
stores. and other places business was al
a standstI. Lights shone through the
windows Of the Post-office Department,
the District Building. the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing. the Government
Printing once. the New Willard. and
several other Of the larger hotels. but
the newspaper Offices. cafes, and other
places supplied by the electric company
were dark.
The big electric signs, which usually
make Pennsylvania avenue almost as
brilliant as day. were invisible. 4 pic
turesque scene was witnessed in the new
Cafe Republique, where candles were
placed on tables in the restaurant and
grill room, so that the refreshment Of
guests would not be disturbed.
Store proprietors who abandoned the
use Of gas lights years ago, after having
electric light installed, busted the old gas
jets. wiped away cobwebs, and ccngTatu-
/ lated themselves toat the gas dxuters
had not been removed. Merchants hav-
/ ing candles on sale did a rushing busi-
/ ness, and cabmen and fessenger boys
reaped a harvest
Telephone Girls Rushed.
Probably the busiest place in Washing
ton was the central telephone exchange.
A minute after the lights went out calls
began coming in the Office In such num-
bers that the girls had difficulty in hand
ling them. The Office was dark until gas
jets were lighted, and the the girls set
tied down 10 real work.
Hundreds OF calls passed through the
oce in q few minutes-belated husbands
telephoning wives that they could not
reach home until the cars started, per
sons with appointments explaining that
they would be delayed. others calling for
taxicabs in order TO catch an outgoing
train or keep a dinner engagement, and
an incredible number of the curious en-
deavoring to learn what was the mat
ter"
Darkness enshrOuded the meeting OF
the Oldest Inhabitants Association in
the Union engine house shortly after the
chairman's gavel raped Tor order.
Get out the tailow candles cried
some of the old guard, its the only de-
pendable light in existence. despite all
these modern improvements"
Lighting Company GriIled.
Then, with gentle irony, and some that
was not so gentle the members pro-
eeeded to grill the city government and
tthe electric lightning company for per-
mitting the lights te go out just at the
very moment when the Oldest Inhab-
itants' Association desired TO foregather
and enjoy social hour
Eloquence was poured out upon the
surrounding gloom and nearly every
body gave vent 10 his feelings in a pic
turesque manner.
It's an outrage" they declared, and
adopted appropriate resolutions condemn
ing it. Nor was their wrath appeased
when the lights flashed once more and
| the festivities Of the evening opened.