Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-03
WIND PLAYS. HAVOC
Thousands of Dollars Damage
Caused by Storm.
ROOFS BLOWN OFF HOUSES
Signs Torn From Buildings, Trees
Uprooted and Vehicles Overturned.
APARTMENT HOUSE STRIPPED
Six Rear Porches Snapped Off and
About Ton of Brick Dropped
into a Side Street.

1IdHidSc dHOuIltlIlS 10 tnOuSdnuS
| dollars. the full extent of which will not
be known for several days. was caused
here this morning by a terrific windstorm
Roofs Of houses were blown off, windows
were broken. signs We're torn from build
ings. trees Were uprooted and several
automobiles and wagons were overturned.
The wind from the southwest reached a
maximum velocity of thirty-five miles an
hour at about II 90 o'clock. according to
the weather. bureau. However, the maxi
mum velocity is the average for five min
utes, and it is thought that the extreme
velocity for short periods Of time prob
ably was fifty-five to sixty miles an hour.
The tin roof of eight adjoining houses
at 147S to 1892 Chaplin street northwest
was torn off entirely and rolled upon the
front, taking with it six rear porches
The southwest corner Of the building,
which received the fun benefit of the
blast was the worst damaged. not only
being roof1ess, but Incidentally about a
ton of brick from the walls was lifted
high in the air and dropped down on the
side street. For somAs spaces not only
was the tin removed, I but some of the
woodwork of the roof the latter remain
ing intact.
Bricks Lifted Straight Into Air.
This apartment building faces north on
Chaplin street and is on hill. The wind,
coming from the southwest. has a free
sweep. f. H. CorsOn, who resides at
1915 Clifton street-a block away-said
that the wind that tore off the roof was
exactly like western cyclone. The
bricks, he said. were lifted straight into
the air. whirled around and dropped
cOfnpara lively slowly. The roof. which is
probably 80 feet long by 60 feet deep,
was swept off with one gust. The tearing
was accompanied by noise which could
be heard for blocks.
There are about twenty families living
in the building in apartments. No one
was hurt. and there was less excitement
than might be expected because of the
fact that the tearing of the roof was be-
gun and finished before any one knew
what had happened.
The damage to the furnishings of the
apartments will not be great, it is
thought although when the roof went
the rain was coming down in torrents.
Over the top apartments is an attic eX
tending the entire length of the build
ing and little was stored in it.
Narrowly Escapes Injury.
The ratings and roofs of the back
porches We're picked up like paper with
the tin and rolled up on the front Of the
building. An enormous pole weighing
hundreds Of pounds was hurled through
the rear window Of the apartment at 14S4
Chaplin street. occupied 10y Mr.. and Mrs.
b. +. MorrlIs. The pole nearly struck
Mrs. Morrills as she was running into
the front room.
The rain came through the plastering
Of the living room of d. Cologne. who
occupies the upper apartment of 1892.
and for a time all his belongings were
threatened. He. however, managed to
keep out the rain with canvas.
The whole front of 147S was INSTRUCTED
by overhanging tin, which had curlel up
for about seventy-fve feet. The apart
ments at this number are not occupied.
Breaks Windows in Mills Building.
The gale swept up 18th street and
struck the Mills building. at Pennsylva-
MIA avenue. with full force, breaking two
windows on the sixth floor south front,
scattering broken glass on several clerks
at their desks. c. $. st. Clair, quar-
termaster sergeant in the Marine Corps.
who was in the room on duty, was the
only one. however, who was seriously
injured. His wrist was cut deeply and
his head and fingers We're gashed. He
was taken to the naval dispensary near
by and his injuries dressed.
The same blast of wind broke the show
windows in Goodman's store on the
northwest corner Of 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, and overturned the
mail wagon of the State Department,
which was standing near the F. street
entrance. The horse attached was
thrown down, but was not injured.
Enormous Tree Is Uprooted.
An enormous tree on 14th street near
Chaplin street was uprooted and many of
those in the neighborhood were stripped
of limbs. Six windows of the Tea Cup
Inn on II street were broken
A large plateglass window of the Cairo
apartment was struck by a tree in its
flight and although the branches were
broken off short the window was not
broken.
Carriage, especially those on the wide
avenues, hunted for shelter when the
wind was at its height. and in a few in
stances were overturned. Several auto
mobiles standing at Connecticut avenue
near L street We're overturned.
Rev. Robert Talbot, rector of St Paul's
Episcopal Church, was driving an cleo
trio automobile, and had a hard time
keeping the machine on its four wheels
Some time ago, during storm, a part of
he roof m Mr. Talhot's holISe was hlow,