Evening star., 1933-08-23
Storm Briefs
Humorous and Near Tragic
Incidents Flavor Capitals
Experience With Weather
.HE rain and wind which swept Il

TINE rain and wind which swept the
city this morning left in its wake
many incidents of humor, loss
L and near-tragedy.
Early in the day police, flremen
and other District government agencies
were swamped with calls reporting dam
age and switchboards continued func-
tioning only with greatest difficulty. Be-
fore the morning was half over the Ft-e
Board was receiving only calls Of An
emergency nature.
No attempt was being made today to
ascertain the exact number Of trees
damaged by the gale, but during two
hours this morning 174 calls reporting
tree damage were received by the Office
of Clifford Lanham, superintendent OF
trees and parkings. According to irfor-
nation given Mr. Lanham, 80 trees had
been uprooted. and at least 100 more
damaged.
A partial survey Of the first police
precinct resulted in list Of approxi-
mately $50 trees down and equally large
numbers were uprooted in other sec
tions Of the city.
Corporation Counsel William W.
Bride was one Of scores who left Wash
ington today to bring their families
home from vacations in threatened
areas Mr.. Brides family was storm
bound is miles south Of Rehoboth, Del.
He left at 1890 this morning when IN
formed by the Weather Bureau that
the storm would become worse At that
time telephone lines between Washing
ton and the Summer resort were down.
The sweeping rain and wind were too
much for a white haired, white-bearded
old man who tried to cross Pennsylvania
avenue at Fourteenth street. Just as
he stepped of a street car loading plat
form. heavy gust struck him. For
moment he stood motionless bending
into the wind. his clothes Tapping about
him. But the wind was too strong and
blew him backward, setting him down
on the platform.
Umbrella trouble was common. One
man. who dripped his way into police
headquarters out Of the storm, had left
home with an umbrella. BY the time
he reached town the wind had turned
it wrong side out and ripped it to shreds
Il bought new one at a store" he
The new one was already torn and
useless.
One middle-aged woman emerging
from a bank at Fifteenth street and
New York avenue prof1ted by the dis
comforture of two of her less fortunate
sisters. Two women got off a street
car just as she was about to 60 out
into the rain. They raised their UNI
brellas which Immediately were turned
wrong side out and crumpled In the
wind
81 can beat that" said the wise one.
and held her umbrella half closed over
her head like a sheath 1t worked and
she safely reached the other side of
the street
A tree fell on the store and home
Of George Dechelbaun. $50 r street.
broke all the windows of the upper
floors and brought fear to the family
tina. a change in the wind would cause
1t to shift and break the wall of the
house
A live wire was blown down in rear
Of 1906 Emerson street and brought an
emergency call.
The sewage system at Fifth and
Ingraham streets which during past
storms has caused water to pile up and
flood cellars of nearby houses, was
working perfectly this morning. The
sewage pumping station at Second
and N streets southeast worked at full
speed today with four pumps. instead
of the usual one. forcing the water
through the DISTRICTS sewers.
Trees ON H street for two blocks be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets were
2AN al {
struck by a cyclone. Those which were
not uprooted were badly bent by the
storm Just around the corner a tree
fell on a house in the 900 block of I
street.
A large electric light globe of Sheri-
dan Circle gave way to gust of wind
during the morning rush hour, fell and
narrowly missed several automobiles.
The globe. carrying with it the bulb.
hit the center of the street with a loud
report and glass was scattered in a
radius OF many feet.
The wind f1attened the big tent. at
Piney Branch road and Georgia avenue.
where Dr. Clark Forcey. radio preacher,
conducts services, forcing transfer tenn
porariry to the Vermont Avenue Chris
tian Church.
Michael Lane, Washington attorney,
and mayor Of North Beach. Nd, re-
turned to Washington this morning to
announce that the bulkhead built re-
Gently was keeping back the wind
lashed waves which were beating
against it. Little damage was done
at the resort
before the storm was the arrival and