The Washington herald., 1912-07-15
NEWSOFALEXANDRIA
Electrical Storm Causes Great Dam
age-Houses Flooded and Tele-
phone Service Affected.

AleNdluTldp a.. Juiy IL lAAs N4Ns
was at $50 o'clock this evening visited
by an unusually severe rainstorm, ac-
companied by thunder and lightning,
which lasted for an hour. II was the
worst storm OF the season. During the
progress OF che storm the streets and
sidewalks were quickly converted into
watersheds. cellars in many instances
being flooded. Traffic on the electric
railroad was seriously interrupted as a
result of the storm.
Passengers aboard the train which left
Mount Vernon at $40 O'Clock this even
ing encountered the storm during their
trip up just after leaving the Dyke, two
miles south OF this city. While the
train was crossing the electric railway
bridge over Hunting Creek a telegraph
pole fell against the motor cab. slightly
Damaging II and causing CONSERVATION
among the passengers in the front car,
most OF whom were women.
Motorman George w. PeregOy escaped
injury by jumping to Cne side.
On South Royal Street from King
Street to the end Of that thoroughfare
the street was flooded. water at the eN-
treme end OF that thorouShfare, near
Wilkes Street, being as high as the hub
of the average wagon. Small houses on
the lower end OF the street were flooded.
of F. NJ. Hamilton, 212 South Royal
Street. was blown down during the storm.
The suburbs north of Alexandria suffered
considerable damage by foods.
Telephones in every section Of the city
were put out of commission as a result
of the storm. A force OF employees will
start to work tomorrow morning re-
pairing the telephones.
About 125 delegates will attend the
ninth annual convention of the State As
sociation of the Retail Merchants As
ISOLATION. which will convene in this city
Wednesday next. and conclude Its de-
liberations at noon Thursday with the
annual election of officers and the Sc
lection of a city for the next annual
convention.
The sessions OF the convention will be
held in the Young Peoples building Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
and will be presided over by Samuel
Cohen, president, of Richmond, Va.
During their stay in this city the dele
gates will be entertained by the men,
bers of the local association. Among the
features planned is a trip Wednesday
evening to Marshall Hall, where dinner
Will be served. Other features are also
planned. Courtney Acton Is chairman
OF the entertainment committee, and
Charles B. Swan is chairman Of the COM
mittee of arrangements for the reception
CT the delegates.
There is considerable specula tion
among the members of the police de-
partment as to who will be chosen for
the three positions of sergeant on the
police force at a meeting of the COM
missioners which will be held next
Wednesday night.
The State Legislature at its last ses-
sion, in conformity with a recent re-
quest of the city council, changed the
city charter so as to have the police
force consist of a chief and as many
sergeants as the board of commission
ers may see fit
Among those prominently spoken of
for the positions are: Lieut.. Frank ].
Bettis, Policemen Roberts, wilkinson,
Roland, Beach, and Gill.
Plans for a regatta which will be
held July 81, next, will be made at a
of the Alexandria Motor Boat
Association, which will be held to-
morrow night
1t is expected that a large number
of members of the club will enter the
contest with their boats. Already con-
siderable enthusiasm is being mani