The Washington times., 1914-06-29
DISTRICT FORTUNATE
IN STORM ESCAPE
River View Suffers Heaviest
When Wind Wrecks Power.
house and Hotel.

Reports made by police Of the diff
ferent precincts today show that no
serious damage was done in the Dis
trict by the severe electric and rain
storm yesterday afternoon and last
night. The fact that the storm was not
accompanied by heavy wind prevented
damage to property.
The electric disturbance vas tie most
prolonged that has visited this section
of the country in years. Reports from
nearby places in Maryland and Vir-
| ginia show that in some sections there
| was a heavy wind and much damage
done.
At River View, just below Alexandria.
on the Maryland side of the Potomac.
| the wind blew down the power house,
the shoot-the-chutes. and part OF the
hotel. There was large crowd OF
colored excursionists at the resort at
! the time. Officers Of the company which
owns the resort said today that workmen
were already making repairs, and ina.
! the damage TO the buildings would not
result in closing the place even tenn
In the section beyond Congress
Heights it was reported that mucn
hdamage was done to the corn crop Al Al
| corn that was more than two feet high
! vas blown over and beaten down oy
( the rain.
Sewers Were 0vertaxed.
In the District, however. the police
rsnorts show that the number Of trees
| that went down and limbs blown on
vas fewer that usually occurs durins
4 q, biz storm. The big downpour over
/ taxed the sewers. which were not aoie
/ 70 carry off the water as fast as II
fou and In some sections the streets
Tere converted into small rivers.
| There was some interruption to IN
terburban traffic on the trolley lines.
but the tie-ups were only temporary.
! Suburban telephone lines Were ;on. Ior OF ~
Of commission, and in many secuons ..
/ Alexandria county, Va, elecuic hsnt
lies vent down and homes were In
Jichtinr struck but two places In
Washington. The home OF Scnott MS
! struck about o'clock and set on uIe-
TIE damage was 800. Lightning ran In
a cable used for conveying eiect1c
mower to the shoe repair shop OF YIN
cent Marino, 725 Eighth street southeast
causing the machinery to emit SPARKS
An alarm OF Are YVES sounded, but when
the firemen arrived II was FOUND tAat
the lightning had done no damage.
The storm presented most unusual
electric phenomenon Flashes OF Hgn..
ming followed each other so closeiy tha'
the heavens were kept illuminated al.
most constantly. The flashes: lnstea'
of being in one streak, would break IN
To showers that spread in the SKY
in all directions. reseHphhs
Storm Along the River
Along the lower river numerous mo-
torhoats were blown ashore. 1t was re-
) ported that two Of three boats aI.
chored below Alexandria capsized. pu'
no one was in them at the time VIII, WIZ
t down near Fort Foote. -Four men were
in this boat, but got ashore with tne
, aid of soldiers at the fort: -.
washingtonians on board, got In trouble
below Alexandria The launch Mars
went TO the aid OF the disabled craI,
and towed 1t to Alexandria rllteet
or twenty small boats .,vnS which .ad WeF. wer.
unabie To get to washington before the
storm broke, put in at Alexandra
Several houses in the country aroune
wasbington were struck by lightning
: hut the heavy downpour prevented tht
flames from spreading rapidly, and tn'
fires were put out before serious dani'
age was done.