The Washington times., 1913-07-31
PRIESTS tBSDtW:
VICTIMS OF STORM
Baltimore Cleric Aids Capital
Men in MiniStering to Dying
in Saul Accident.

Declaring that yesterdays storm was
the worst he ever had encountered, the
Rev. John Z. Wade, pastor of SIS. Philip
and James Catholic Church. Balti-
more. returned to his home last night,
after ministering absolution TO the dy-
ing victims of the Saul building cas-
ualty.
Father Wade came to Washington
yesterday morning to visit Father
Bischoff at Brightwood
1T was the worst that l have ever
seen." said Father Wade, land one that
I will not quickly forget With Father
Bischoff, l was aboard an electric car
bound for the city. Suddenly, as we
neared the city streets, 4 breeze devel-
Oped in the west. Five minutes later
The wind had risen to a gale.
We were then on Georgia avenue
and, as the car proceeded, the wind m
creased to hurricane force. The streets
were gripped by a veritable sandstorm
for from ten to fifteen minutes. We
could hear the smashing of glass ard
the breaking of trees IN all directions.
The sandstorm compelled US 10 cover
Ou.' faces and the mOtOrm1a was cbnGed
to stop the car.
Played On Streets.
:. Heavy thunder and binding flashes
of lightning followed the wind. 1t
appeared as though the lightning was
playing up and down the streets. The
crash of glass could be heard above
the screechinE of the wind. A few
minutes later rain began TO fall, but
the wind did not abate. The rain clear
ed the dust-filled atmosphere and we
saw scores of roofs being lifted from
houses and blown to the streets.
I'VE did not venture to leave the car.
for no one dared attempt to walk in
the face of that storm. We were Obliged
TO hold to our seats at times, and .lhe
car swayed. Automobiles, deserted and
water-soaked, with their wind shields
and tops gone, were scattered about
the streets or blown against the trunks
of big trees.
We were held prisoners in the car
far nearly an hour. and leaving it at
Ninth and L streets, we started to
walk toward Union Station. In all di-
rections windows were blown from the
. biggest buildings, trees were uprooted
and the streets were blockaded. 1 saw
many car men clearing the tracks OF
the debris.
: The streets were veritable rivers. and.
-as a climax to the storm, a heavy down
pour Of hail came down for ten min
utes. We wondered at the atmos-
.pheric performance and hardly knew
what to expect next. After the hail the
storm subsided, and the clouds began
TO clear In the northwest, whence the
storm broke.
Building Levelled.
"a few minutes after leaving the car
We were attracted by a large crowd at
Seventh and L streets. Arriving within
half a block of the intersection, we saw
. that a three-story building had been
= leveled. Making hasty inquiry. We
learned that a number Of persons were
in the ruins. BY this time the firemen
! arrived, and We made our Yay through
the crowd. Mr.. Saul, the owner of the
building. was there, a few minutes later
. Father Connolly, of the Immaculate
Conception Church, and Father Nc
.. Namara, of St Patrick's arrived.
we gave conditional absolution TO the
y Catholics who were caught in the build
. ing. The front had fallen out on L
, street and the side slumped into Sew
. enth. The first man taken out was
; dead, but the second was alive and was
. taken to Emergency Hospital The
. third. I was told. was Mr.. Hilton. vice
. president of the company. He was dead
= The fourth rescued was a young wom-
: an and the fifth was a man. All were
" taken to the hospital.
I'VE learned from Mr.. Saul and others
. that Mr.. Hilton died the death of a