Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-31
Men on Dome of Capitol
Say ut Was Some Storm

To all Inquiries as to what IL feels
like to be clinging 10 a scaffold on tn.
curving side Of the Capitol's dome dur
ing storm like yesterdays hurricane
James Boyle and John Ford reply.
We'll. 1t was some storm
Boyle and Ford were two of the
thirty-five painters under George Al
sted, the foreman. who were scattered
all over the outside of the big white
dome working with duh gray paint
giving the dome cleaning appea.
ance under the terrific rays OF the sum-
mer sun. They stayed out in the rain.
Saw Storm Coming.
AIsted. the, foreman. says today that
he saw the storm coming half an hour
before II hit.
II looked up North Capitol street. and
the sight l saw reminded me of an ex-
plosion where q lot of steam had been
let loose. Clouds Of dust. ! suppose they
were. had been driven high into the air
and the dirty. black storm bowled along
as IL II were making directly for the
Capitol" $500,
Elliott Woods. superintendent OF the
Capitol. had arranged get OF instruc-
lions for the painters who are giving the
dome Its new coat, and among the rules Is
one requiring the men to shift from out
side to inside work at the approach or
rain. Alsted, with the big black storm
rushing down on him. called his men in.
Most OF them clambered down the sides
OF the Capitol and disappeared through a
doorway halfway up.
While trees We're being split and build
ings smashed the pine scaffolding which
now surrounds the Goddess of Freedom
lived through the storm without a
scratch. Men who were on the dome be-
fore the storm broke. but while the wind
planks bent and gave like rubber bands.
The reason the scaffolding did not break
to pieces was because IL was bolted and
made fast to the statue. and the material
Of which it is made is the sort with a
tremendous give"
Guard Against lightning.
The sea ffoiding will begin to come down
today after the workmen have repaired
the broken star and placed some expen-
sive platinum tips about the bronze hg
ure. These act as lightning rods. The
old ones show that lightning has play ed
around the big bronze lady many a time.
as the once sharp points are melted and
duiled.
When the storm struck the Capitol the
tariff bill was under consideration in the
Senate. and a roll call had just been o.
dered to secure a quorum. The heavy
rain and hail beat upon the glass sky
lights above the chamber. The deep giooi3.
outside made it necessary to call for eiee-
trio lights. So great was the noise caused
by the storm that 4 was impossible Tor
the senators to hear their names called
by the clerk, and they crowded down be-
fore the Vice Presidents desk.
Forced to Take Recess.
When the roll call was half over hall
stones crashed down upon the skylight
The noise was like a bombardment Il
was imposs BILE 10 hear the reading clerk
ten feet away. Democratic Leader Kern
lrumpeted through his hands motion IL
recess. and the motion prevailed bS unan-
imous vote.
The senators hurried to the maro"
room facing north and other points OF
advantage to watch the storm.
The sixty or more chairs at the band
stand east Of the Capitol, which had just
been erected for the Wednesday after
noon concert. were sent whirling down
New Jersey avenue. Some of them went
as far as the railroad tracks several
squares away.