The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-13
TORNADO SWEEPS
OVER BRYAN PARK
One Hundred and Fifty Trees
Uprooted and Keepers House
Damaged
TOOK EVERYTHING IN PATH
Ancient Buildings Escape, While
Giant Oaks and Cedars
Are Wrecked.
TOOK EVERYTHING IN PATTI

Joseph Bryan Park wGs damaged by
a tornado early yesterday afternoon
as many as $50 fine Dad forest tree.
having been snapped OF or uprootcd
1T is considered remarkable that there
was no loss of life. since the storm
swept everything in its path. City
Engineer Boiling, who inspected the
park after the storm, said that ire
parable damage had been done-that
lie finest trees in the grove had been
destroyed.
81 do not think | ever saw such DC
vastation," said Nj. boiling. The
were damaged by falling trees. and
injury has been done to the maSniii-
cent grove which cannot be cstimat
ed in money. Trees are gone which
it will take 100 years To replace.
Healthy red cedars wit. trunks e!Gh-
teen inches in diameter were snapped
off above sround. and many of the fine
Old oaks which surrounded the Nor
decai house have been UproOted."
While more or less damage was done
throughout the neighb o,hood. a house
IN course OF erection ueing blown
down on the Hermitage Road. the
storm seems to have centred in the
Park, whore two clouds met between
and o'clock, sending down an ava
lanchc of water which iilcd the lake
TO overlooking, and which was ac-
companicd by wind OF kind seldom
ii ever before experienced in that vicin-
ity.
The park embraces a tract of &c:
acres surrounding the lake formerly
known as founs's Pond and WAS once
the home of the MordeCni family. 1t
was presented TO the city as public
park about two years ago by the late
Mrs. Joseph Bryan and her sons. as Il
memorial to Mr.. Bryan. The city has
rebuilt the dam, erected Keeper )
house and made other improvements.
throwing the park open as picnic
ground and place of public recreation.
Its chief attraction has been the fine
grove OF trees surrounding Rose
wood" the old Mordecai house, and the
original forest growt, surrounding
the upper part OF the lake. Plans are
now BEING prepared for erection or
memorial gates. granolithic walitways
and other improvements. The park -
about two miles northwest OF the city
on the Hermitage Road
Following a morning o. heavy show
crs. tho grounds were deserted save
for the presence of Keeper +. \. Lane
and his family in the Keepers house
at the entrance. and those living ~
Rosewood.
For some time these were in terror
OF their lives. great trees were up
rooted in every direction some or them
being hurled against tie houses with
violence. 1t is regarded remark
able that the older buildings stood
when strong healthy trees We're twist
ed from their roots
When the storm had passed, Keeper
Lane found that his telephone line
had gone down with the wrcckage
Dwellings on the Hermitage Road a
half mile nearer the city had appar-
entity escaped injury. and from there a
message was sent to City Engineer
Boiling. who went out at once TO see
what could be done to protect city
property The roof OF the Keepers
house was found partly broken in BY
great tree which had fallen across
it. and much damage had been done tt
the other buildings. The lake was
overlooking, and In every direction
the way was blocked by uprooted trees
or heavy limbs torn away b. the fury
of the storm.
Extra men will be put to work thu:
morning clearing away the wrcckage
/ and more careful estimates of the cX'
tent of the damage will be made by
the Engineers Department for repor
to the Council Committee on Ground:
and Buildings. Chairman Batkins wa:
notified Yesterday afternoon and visit
ed the park. express ing the creates
regret at the great damage done Il
| tho property.