Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
S|XTY-M|LE WIND DOES
GREAT DAMAGE HERE
Trees. Arc Snapped on, and Many
Windows and Awnings
Suffer.
BIG SIGN AT MuRpHY's TOPPLES
Cap Of Water Tank IS Carried Across
Eighth Street, and Lands on Roof
of st. Peters Catholic Church,
on Opposite Corner.

With a wind velocity OF sixty miles
per hour. sharp thunderstorm swept
over Richmond yesterday afternoon
about o'clock. ripping roofs and
damaging trees in all directions. The
morning had been the hottest of the
summer. the thermometer climbing
steadily to 90 degrees at o'clock,
while the air was sultry and close to
a degree not before experienced this
season. About S o'clock another storm,
accompanied by a greater electrical
display. passed over. with some hail,
and the night was appreciably cooler
as a result. Little actual rain fell in
the two storms, though the latter did
much damage to electrical and tclc-
phone wires and similar equipment.
In tho high wind which preceded
the afternoon storm houses were un-
rooted. wires and trees blown Town.
awnings and flaEs torn TO shrcds, cross
ines washed GU, windows shattered
and signs and showcases demolished
all through the city. only two peo-
pic were hurt, and these not seriously.
according 10 unconfirmcd reports.
Neither police stations nor hospitals
had any report Of personal injuries.
Tho storm lasted scarcely more than
a quarter of AN hour. but for several
hours thereafter the police in the
three precincts were kept busy put
ting lights on INSTRUCTIONS blown into
the streets. Every lantern available
was used and additional lights secured
from the city stables. Even at that
there were a number of complaints
which could not he attended to for
lack Of sufficient lights.
ROOF OF WATER TANK
HURLED ON Tor OF CHURCH
One of the freaks wrought by the
storm, which. however. luckily resulted
in no injuries. was the unroofinE OF a
hugh water tank situated atop the
Murphy Hotel annex at Eighth and
Broad Streets. The tank top was
wrenchcd off and carried high through
the air and deposited on the roof of
St. Peters Catholic Church, a. Ninth
and Grace Streets. damaging that
cditice
Two houses, tenanted by negroes.
on St Peter Street were unroofed, and
similar fate suffered by two residences
under construction on Oakwood
Avenue. Several porchcs on Oakwood
Avenue residences were demolished
and flying timbcrs from thc.e injured
man and woman, according TO avail
able information.
number Of tombstoncs in Oak
wood Cemetery were fellcd, several
handsome monuments being damaged
The storm did particular damage at
Eighth and Broad Street. In addition
to the unroofinE of the tank on ton
OF Murphy's Hotel. large electric
sign was wrcnched from it's iron
fasteninss and hurled through the
skyiight of the hotel kitchen
An Ellyson campaign banner, strung
across the street. was torn loose and
whisked away. and the Home Town"
news wagon was overturned and the
stock scattered to the four winds. the
loss apprOXimatinE SOS
me roof Of the Blair Drug Company.
on Broad Street between Eighth and
Ninth Streets. was damaged by falling
debris. and numerous instances were
reported where streets we're comnloto
~ blocked by falling trees wiro
damage was reported all through tho
city.
smokestack on the Southern Rail-
way shops was torn down, and the
roof or the Columbia Shoe factory. at
twentieth and Grace Streets. damaged
Among the numerous windows sur
fering from the storm was the large
piatc-Eiass window opening on tho
nrcssroom of The Times Dispatch. on
Tenth Street