Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-22
Wires, Houses and Trees SUI
fer From High Winds.
RAIN SUCCEEDED BY HAIL
Lightning and Thunder Also in Evil
denoe First Tire in Many Weeks.
ENTIRE EAST IN GRIP OF GALE
Five Steamers Blown Ashore at Nor
folk-Ice and Water Flood
Laurel, Md.

Like all other parts Of the eastern half
of the country. the District Of Columbia
last night and early this morning was
in the grip Of one of the most unusual
storms of the season. High winds, which
in some places reached almost hurricane
velocity. We're recorded. and fallen tele-
graph and telephone wires. uprooted
trees and wrecked chimneys were the
first time in many weeks thunder and
lightning were in evidence. Late at night
il hailed.
Fortunately for the National Capital,
its position a hundred miles inland from
the coast saved it from the worst Of the
gallo, while its natural bulwark of shell
tering hills also detected some Of the
force Of the wind.
According to the records of wind We
locity at the weather bureau, the air
supply Of the entire District was changed
at least once. each twenty seconds last
night, while occasional gusts carried
whole chunks Of the circumambient at
mosphere from Tenleytown to Blue Plains
in a fraction under ten seconds. In other
words, the prevailing wind velocity was
about twenty-eight miles an hour, while
fractional seconds Of the tempest brought
records Of thirty-eight and forty mile
wind.
Record Broken at New York.
Reports received at the weather bureau
from other weather stations, however. in
Dictated that many points in the east suf-
fered one of the worst wtndstorms in re-
cent years. Sixty-mile wind was regis
tered at Norfolk and Richmond and at
many other stations along the north At
lantic coast, while all known records were
broken at the New York weather station,
where q wind velocity Of ninety-six miles
an hour was registered. In Norfolk har-
bor five steamships were torn from their
anchorage and blown ashore.
The river channels Tn the vicinity of
this city are open to navigation, but the
ice remains on the flats In the George
town channel and, except in spots, be-
Resale and Eugenia Of the Sznoot Sand
Company's fleet have gone into service
and brought their first tows Of two loaded
boats to the Smoot wharf on the Eastern
branch: taking out two light scows.. These
were tho first sand-laden lighters to he
brought into port for more than six
weeks.
With the chances largely against an
other freeze this winter. 1t Is probable
that the dredging machines of the sand
service again at points down the river
within the next Two weeks.
Ice Gorge Menaces Bridge.
An ice gorge which for a time threat
ened trouble formed last night at the
Hunting Creek bridge Of the WashinUton-
Virginia Railway company, and the sit
uation was so alarming that the last
Mount Vernon train last night was not
sent out Employees OF tho company
worked most of the night. however, and
tho fnailv broken and train
service was resumed this morning. The
railroad men were particularly anxious
TO overcome the danger point At the
bridge. because Of the possibility that 1t
President Taft's special train this after
noon. the chief executive going to Mount
Vernon to place q laurel wreath on the
tomb Of George Washington.
A telephone message received this
morning from OccoQuan village stated
that high water from the heavy rain OF
yesterday had carried all the Ice on
occoquan creek. piling 1t in a gorge ten
workhouse. The extent Of the damage,
il any, was not stated.
Colder weather. which arrived last
night on the wings Of the northwest gale.
point, expected to be reached by the mer.
curry being about twenty-five degrees.
The official forecast contemplates clear
skies again tomorrow, with rising tenn
perature. q
Part of Laurel Under Water.
LAUREL. Md, February 22-Thousands
of tons of ice have been piled up by the
overflow Of the Patuxent river here. the
highest known in years. The home of
John Eohrig, several squares from the
river. IL surrounded by water. Mr.. Lehrig
conducts a large willow garden which
has been buried by the heavy cakes of
ice, from ten to fifteen inches in thick
ness.
The road from Anne Arundel county
is impossible for teams ana 1t Is neces-
sary to make detour Of two miles TO
get into Laurel. Acres of land are food
ed. A number of owners Of icehouses
here will gather the Ice over the sur
rounding fields as soon as the water from
the river permits.