Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-28
CITY HIT BY STORM
Varied Tricks Played by Wind,
Lightning, Hail and Rain.
MANY TREES ARE DAMAGED
Some Uprooted, Including One in
White House Grounds.
FIRE AT SOLDIERS HOME
Lightning Strikes Dairy Building,
Causing Loss of $4,000.
Hurt in Runaway.

Not in many years has n storm played
such varied tricks as did the streak of
weather which crossed Washington like
a diagonal sash of rain yesterday after
noon. The freaks of a storm were never
better illustrated. From the President
playing golf. down to the humblest citi-
Zens. the rain was no respecter of per
sons, and neither was the accompanying
gale and the lightning. which caused a
ire at Soldiers Home. with damage esti-
mated at $4,000.
To cool heated city the weather bu-
reau had promised. only yesterday morn
ing, that the great cool northwest would
send a storm or two before the day was
over. The northwest is missing the hot
weather just at this time. and has stored
up atmosphere OF a very cool sort. Frost
is still felt in North Dakota. 1t was from
this pleasant region that the storm came
yesterday afternoon.
People in Office buildings downtown
could see the great black pilins clouds
as they massed themselves in the west.
but few people realized the terrific force
of the wind that carried the storm across
the city. The clouds, wind, rain and
lightning cut across the city diagonally,
from the monument to Soldiers Home.
Fifty-Ton Crane Keels Over.
A tremendous fifty-ton crane was stand
ing on the railroad tracks In the yard
at the foot of l4th street 1t is one
Of the most powerful lifters in the rail-
road business. and yet it keeled over
on its side under the wind. This morn
ing it lies with steel wheel crushed,
and several wrecking cars and gangs
are trying to straighten it up. The wind
which smashed fifty-ton crane left the
delicate window glasses in several green
houses untouched, and yet smashed to
splinters the heavy French panes of a
dozen windows in the District building.
Seven hundred trees have suffered DAM
age. In the northeast streets in some
places We're effectuaily blocked by the
not at a tremendous height on the Chevy
Chase links, President Taft and Maj.
Archibald w. Butt were caught unawares
and sought shelter.
Hail which ratified on the roof of the
Senate chamber made it impossible to
conduct the proceedings of that body and
the Senate adjourned.
The hailstones were remarkable for
their size. For several minutes they
dashed the city with singing fury. AS
hail is generally described. Whether
or not this is accurate, the fact re-
mains that the hailstones could be
picked up from the street with per-
feet ease.
Seven Hundred Trees Damaged.
The wind, blowing at from thirty
five to sixty miles an hour. caused
considerable damage to trees through
out the city. More than 700 trees
were broken or blown down.
The telephone operators at police
headquarters had no time TO attend
to much business this morning other
than to receive and transmit mes
sages about broken trees causing OBJ
structions Members of the street
cleaning force who were out early
found it almost impossible to make
Roadway because of the hundreds of
broken limbs on the streets.
Parkings and sidewalks were Uttered
with branches of trees that had come
down during the severe blow, furnishing
many extra loads of debris to be hauled
by the STRENGTHENING force. A number
of sewers became INSTRUCTED during the
storm and furnished wading pools for the
barefooted youngsters who were on the
streets as soon as the storm ceased.
So much noise was made by the rain
and hail at the Capitol that the Senate
was forced to adjourn. Senator Borah
was addressing the Senate and he was
unable to make his voice heard. The
storm lasted twenty minutes and the time
seemed so .ong that the Senate adjourned
rather than wait until the atmosphere