The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-08
AE0lUS OPENS HIS SACKS.
HIGH WIND SPRING UP IN EARLY
MORNING WHICH DID CON-
SIDERABLE DAMAGE.
Numbcr Of Electric Light Wires Burnt
out-rclcphonc Poles Down I'm City
and System Almost put out Of Ser
vice I'm Country for Time Being
Repairs.

eHy ihursuay, Dut ne had TO give
place to The Winds early Friday
morning when Aeolus opened up his
sacks and allowed them to escape and
run riot through the town. In their
freedom they played havoc with the
electric light system. the telephone
system and did other pranks and
mischiCf In and about town much TO
the dctrirnent of the public welfare.
Friday morning the wind continued,
although It's strength had abated
from what II was between 3 o'clock
and daylight. 1t was still rather dis
agreeable To people on the streets be-
cause OF the sand which II blew In
eyes. hose and mouth. and II was at
times difficult to walk up the street
with the wind blowing against one.
During the night the telephone sys-
tenn was damaged To n considerable
extent. although II was stated this
morning by one OF the head linesmen
Of the exchange that II was impos-
sibie to say just what or how much
damage had been done. Four poles
were blown down on Kendrick street
one on Canal street and at the corner
OF Main and Canal streets big oak
tree mad been blown down on the
wires. the pole had broken off and
N ~
damage to the lines in the rural dis
tricts was even more severe. some of
them being put out of commission for
the time being and others being
damaged to a greater or less extent.
AT o'clock Friday morning the
head linesmen got out on the street
and. after gathering their gangs to-
ghether. set out to examine the lines
Tor damages and To make repairs. The
damages were soon discovered and the
men at once set to work to put the
lines back into service. The first work
was started on the break at the cor
ner OF Main and Calhoun streets, this
being the most serious In town. Here
a new pole was erected and the gang
OF men were kept busy all morning
transferring the wires TO the new
poles. Another gang went to work
to raise the poles on Kendrick street
and the damage on Canal street will
probably be repaired also during the
day. II was learned that all possible
efforts will be made by the exchange
TO have all lines In town replaced in
service Friday. or by Saturday any
ed the linesmen will extend their op-
erations To the country. where they
will begin TO repair the damages done
By the wind and falling branches.
The long distance wires were also
put out OF commission by the storm.
IL IL understood that the operators
were allowed to go home Friday
morning until the lines could be put
back into commission, which will be
as soon as repairs are completed.
The Sumter Lighting Company also
suffered u some extent, but not neal
~ 50 much as the telephone exchange
because OF the depredations OF the
wind. The telephone wires I'm sever
al places crossed the electric light
wires and caused the latter - bura
themselves out. Mr.. Il. III. MOsez,
manager OF the company. secured a
gang OF men shortly after 4 o'clock
and started out TO make repairs. BY
10 o'clock Friday morning breaks in
the wires In front OF Ryttenberg's
warehouse. on Manning avenue. at the
corner OF Calhoun and Main, and at
the corner OF Live Oak and Church
were repaired and the light system
was back In service. Later I'm the day
the fire on South Main street did con-
siderable damage 90 the electric light
lines but men were at once set to
work TO make repairs. No wires
were broken.
j. A. Schwerin and Son, bill post
ers. suffered also from the wind. Sew
errl bill boards were blown down i'm
town and the braces to others were
badly loosencd so that they had To be
strengthened ~ the Presbyterian
Church n big oak fell across the fence
and broke several ponnels Of the iron
fence wnich was erected around the
church lot last summer
A number Of residents reported
their fences blown down and limbs
were blown from trees at various
places In the city. However, no in
juries Of any kind 20 persons or ami
mails from tho wind have been heard
% on the streets.