Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-17
WIND AND RAIN STORM.
Sixty Mile Gale Strikes This City
Towards the Close of
Yesterday.


ed by thunder and lightning, between
six and seven o'clock yesterday even
ing. Rain clouds had appeared in the
western and southwestern heavens an
hour before and the mutterings of
thunder were heard The wind later
waited the clouds over this city, and
rain. thunder and lightning and a
gale, which caused considerable anxi-
ETY., sent people who were in the
streets scurrying to shelter.
The wind came in heavy flaws,
twisting limbs from trees, prostrat-
ing others and causing slight damage,
to houses in some instances.
Glass was broken in the skylight Of
N. Lindsay and Company's building
on the southwest corner of King and
! Union streets, and the awning over
the pavement in front of E. Gold
smiths store, southeast corner Of
King and Lee streets, was blown
down.
There was considerable constema-
ton on the river and river front when
the storm struck the city. Boats
were torn from their moorings, and
in some instances sent out into the
river.
During the prevalence Of the storm
the wind carried away the tent under
which flying horses are operated on
the old fair grounds. The horses and
machinery were damaged to the "x-
tent of about $3.50.
The wind caused some damage at
Luna Park. A tower on on" Of the
buildings was blown down and other
structures in the enclosure were slight
ly injured.
The occupants Of motorboats, many
of which were on their way up the
river at the time, had thrilling expert
ences. Most of the excursionlsts,
however, took proper precautions, and
managed to get their boats to the
Maryland shore or to wharVes before
the tempest broke in It's fury.
A party of FIVE in a Washington
boat were short distance below Al
exandria when the storm broke.
Lightning, it is believed effected the
engine as it stopped running almost
Immediately. Just after the boat had
been made helpless, big two masted
schooner beating for shelter crossed
the bows of the pleasure craft, almost
running it down.
The party managed to get the boat
in Hunting Creek, just below Jones
Point, and was aided by the wind
which blew the boat into somewhat
sheltered water. By keeping the bow
of the launch in the wind the party
prevented the boat from the waiiow-
ing which might have capsized 1t.
The mAtler," thirty foot motor
boat was struck by the squall near
Jones Point and for thirty minutes
battled against seas that broke clean
over her. The "Atler" carried four
men aboard. The four men in the
boat fought it out and made this port,
where they moored the ALTER traV-
cling the rest of the way to Washing
ton by the electric train.
motor boat from Washington man
aped to reach the wharf at the loot
of Wilkes street after the storm broke.
1t contained man and his wife and
several children. Before the former
could secure the boat heavy flaw OF
wind carried it out in the channel ana
wofted It toward the Maryland shore.
It grounded near the residence OF
John Swift, where it remained until
after the wind ceased to blow. A par
tv from this city went to the rescue
and brought the boat to this city. lhe
party later left for Washington.
A beautiful rainbow spanned the
EASTERN heavens after conditions had
resumed their normal condition.
THROUGHOUT the business and resi-
dence districts of the District OF Col
umbia the effects of the wind were
spectacular. Houses were unroofed,
awnings torn away, trees bent and
broke beneath the blast, and the road
ways and sidewalks were filled with
broken boughs and scattered leaves.
Passengers on railway trains COM
ing into Washington early last mgh'
from Baltimore reported that trees
had been blown across the tracks IN
many places, and the passengers had
in several cases left the cars and as
sisted the crews in removing the OBJ
~ olac