The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-02
MORE THAN INCH OF
RAIN IN 10 MINUTES
Total Rainfall Was 2:21 Inches;
Wind Blows F1fty-six-mile
Gale.
FOUR BUILDINGS WRECKED
Shockoe Creek Undermines Structures
and Pickles Up shantics-Travel
and Communication Haited--Heat
Broken.
,DINGs WRECKED

Rushing down upon the city like
a hungry lion bouncing upon its prey,
one of the most severe electrical
storms experienced In many years
swept over this section OF the State
shortly before O'Clock yesterday af-
ternoon. The heavy downpour of rain,
accompanied by terrific gale.
wrought havoc in many parts of the
city. smashing windows, demolishing
large plate glasses in front OF va
rious stores, uprooting trees, tearing
down awnings and wrecking buildings.
For sixteen consecutive minutes. be-
tween 3.4S and 4:04 O'Clock, there
were 1903 inches of rainfall and before
the heavy shower had ceased, some of
the streets in the lower sections OF
the city were flooded with water. AT
6 o'clock yesterday afternoon more
than four feet OF water was standin g
in Main Street between Fifteenth and
Seventeenth. forcing the street cars
that travel over this thoroughfare to
take other routes.
Buildings Collapse.
As an aftermath Of the storm four
buildings between Main Street Station
and the Railroad Y. NJ. c. A coll
lapsed. entailing a loss OF several
thousand dollars The buildings
wrecked were 1896, occupied by s. J.
London, the furniture dealer: 1888, q
correctional store. owned by Mrs. Co
Jumbo JAcoh.ni, and l54042. build
ings In which Chesapeake and Ohio
records were kept
The destruction OF the buildings lie
said TO have been caused by the sink
ing OF the ground beneath them.
the Shockoe Creek being !ast under
them.
Even after the water had left Main
Street, cars were not permitted 70 pass
over the tracks in front of the de-
molished buildings, the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company officials
deeming the streets unsafe
The storm had been over for several
minutes when the buildings suddenly
collapsed with crash that could be
heard for many squares away There
were several passing by the street AT
the time. but all Of them succeeded
In getting away from the wrecked build
inws IN time to prevent any fatalities
Ropes were Immediately stretched
across the street to prevent traffc on
this portion OF the thoroughfare. and
several policemen were placed on duty
last night at this particular place TO
see that no vehicles passed over the
street
shockee Creek on Rampage,
The storm caused Shockoe Creek TO
go on q rampage, and in a short while
1t had overflowed its hanks ana the
water was rushing madly in every d.
rection. . Several houses in this vi
cinity which are occupied by negroes
were Hooded and many of them came
near meeting total destruction before
the water had receded.
The gale that accomps MED the rain
was one OF the most terrific ones that
has visited this section of the United
states In some time. At 3:S5 O'Clock
II was going at rate of forty -eight
miles. while fifteen minutes later 1t
was travelling Just eight miles faster.
Yesterday afternoon az o'clock rler-
curry was lowering around the ~ mark.
but enc hour later IL had descended
20 So degrees, Last night at o'clock
the thermometer registered ~ degrees
Despite the havoc II wrought the
rain yesterday was a Gonsend. and Il
came at a most opportune moment FOR
the farmers. for their crops were badly
In need OF little acoua- II also cooled
the earth and made good sleeping pos
sible for the frst time in several DAYS.
Railway Trains Delayed.
Despite the fact that the storm de-
layed railway traffc, few trains were
late and these were but few minutes
out OF the regular schedule, The chief
troupie appearances was Dy the Sea-
board Air Line Railroad. train No.
4. from Jacksonville, due at the Main
Street Station at 5;s7 o'clock. which
was delayed
Water covered the tracks at the
Shockoe Creek crossing. near the
American Locomotive. Works The
train was forced to back thirty seven
miles to boswell. and ran into Rich
mond on the r.. F. & P tracks.
Train No Z. from Washington, due