The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-04

Great damage Was done yesterday
by the sixty-two- miles-an h ur gallo
which started early in the morning
and ragged with almost uEabated in
tensity through the day. A tank ON
top Of the Surbrug Tobacco company.
North Twenty second street, was
blown from It's fastenings and crash
ed into a tobacco storehouse and tho
east wall OF the western building of
the plant AS the giant tank dropped
a wreck onto the storehouse the dam
age was completed by 10000 gallons
of water, which completely deiuged
the email building ana the stores IT,
contained Fortunately no one was
hurt, though sightse ers shuddered a.
the thought of what might nave hap
penett had all the employees been at
work.
In other parts Of the town trees
were uprooted, telegraph and tele-
phone poles We're blown down, win
dow-panes in hundreds Of stores ard
Residences were smashed ia; signs
were blown down. and several small
buildings in course Of construction
were. demolished. Pedestrians had the
greatest difficulty in making progress,
and frightened women and children
crouened in doorways while the wind
TGkRI 8% It's y ItsAEHA N'ARh'NeF A@ftN ca
teri pied 10 venture cut only between
intermittent gusts
women Blown Down.
So great vas the intensity OF the
gale that several women were fellcd
by It's force. and one young woman
who was blown down WAS dragged
IN a half faiutins condition into
store Hats OF both men and women
fell or easy prey. Some We're blown
high into the air and carried blocks
away Some. lodged in inaccessible
places. and could not be recovered
Shortly before noon shoppers took the
first ear home, and the street cars
were crowded, Parcels We're lert be-
hind FOR delivery or to BE- calico 1o,t
ID sas&isa AL 5o5ys G0J4%s. al GE'-5e6ts M
hat on, ana women found the great
esS difficulty even va walking
- fepr7u-tw F7f ~ rrru@r flowed III Il con
tlnuai stream ipto police headquarters
and into the FIRE department. Fire
men were ready 10 answer amy call.
and every man wah kept on the qui
vtve to 20 out 70 answer an alarm
Policemen were stationed at danger
points. and Major Werner remained
at his telephone all through the day
prepared 10 render any assistance
which the department could give.
The United States weather bureau
sent out storm signals the night be
fore, and the wireless carried tho
warning message TO ships at sea and
to the coast wise trade. Fatalities
at sea were expected. and llfe-sa}ing
stations spent ar anxious day i'm
watching for stoTm-tcssed mariners
Communication Gut ON.
Communication with Norfolk, New
port Meas and Portsu. outh was cut
down poles ard wires. Long distance,
telephone communication was inter
rupted. and. according to 4. : Tan
ner. district manager OF the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone. com
yaflv. great difficulty was experienced
In handling all long distance call
Danv!ie could not be reached, anu
. delayed message from that civ
said that the town had suffered heav-
lily from a severe hatlstorm. Tn.
teiegraphic companies were also dis
treSsed. The heavy cables between
here and Washington were badly Grip
several days In repairing the dam
age. Roanoke could not be communi-
Gated with until after long delay.
In the city there were many sccs~
dents, though all. except that TO The
Surbrug Tobacco company were Of
minor nature. At THE latter place
she gale struck The water tank at
s To o'clock. 1t waved a moment
AgzsnS4 the gale. and then topGied
. j