The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-07-27

trees was the destruction severe. As we
approached the river, we came upon the
theatre of the storm; there it had spent IFS
fury, and instead OF the loss Of few trees
or even Of valuable property, We had to de-
plore that of human life.
The lie Claire Foundry was unroofed
and partly blown down, the bricks and tim
bers falling upon man in the pattern shop
named VIM. Overton, and his sen Edward.
The former was fatally injured and died in
about En- hour thereafter, being the only
death that has thus far resulted from the
storm. His son was badly hurt, but to
what extent is not known, his injuries being
internal Mr.. Overtonw an Englishnan,
a very respectable man and leaves family
TO lament his sudden death. Early the
following morning hands were at work and
the injury is not so great but that Mr.. Norpal
thought they would have their engine in
operation again this afternoon. Forty men
were at work on the premises at the time
and those two were all that experienced
injury.
The new stove store Of Mr.. Wickersham,
a three story brick building, just finished in
business style with open front, ETC., and
filled with the largest and finest stock OF
stoves and tin ware ever brought to this
city, embra cling as one item two hundred
stoves, was leveled TO the very ground
buryiug in its ruins six persons, viz: Mr..
Wiekersham and sons, James and Henry, a
woman and infant and German employee.
The woman and child were first rescued but
slightly injured. Next Mr. w. then Henry,
James and lastly the German, all of whom
were slightly but none seriously hurt,
James having his thigh dislocated, being the
worst.
The escape was almost miraculous, con-
sidering the immense weight in the house
and tlle total wrcch oae Inaae OF *
the walls falling mainly in the cellar ant
prcciptatDg some of the unfortunate per-
sons with them The stock is almost en-
tirely ruined, Mr.. Wickersham estimating
his loss in all at about $4,000. The only
way in which the escape of the persons IN
the building at the time can be accounted
for, is from The fact that the ceiling was OF
boards. as in every instance in which the
persons were rescued these boards lay so as
to afford them protection. Men were at
work portion of the night Under the I'M
preston that woman was still imbedded
in the ruins. but such did no, prove to be
the case. This morning large body OF
men were at work removing the brick and
preparing for the immediate rc-erect!on Of
the building. Such enterprise upon the
par, of Mr.. W. we hope will be rewarded
and he prove as fortunate through life as III
this instatice unfortunate:
The steamer Golden Era lying at the
lcyee came in next for her share OF damage.
| An cf the front part of the boat was blown
in chimnies thrown down and her cabin
nearly ruined. Capt. Bersie estimates the
damare at not less than from four TO nve
thousand dollars. The boat lay in the rlVer
opposjte Messrs Burrows & Prettyman' 5
mill. distant some twenty or thirty yards.
To show the force of the wind, it may be
stated that a man was taken from the up
per deck of the boat and blown against the
mill, striking the second story! His only
injury was the dislocation OF an ankle
The passengers and hands on the boat took
refuge behind the mill and with the cxccp-
ton Of the porter who took the nriai flight
there was not one injured.
On Main street a three story brick build,
ing completed TO the square was levclcd TO
the first story which will have to be torn
down. The new saw mill being erected N
the lower part of the city was partly unroo'
| ID, as was also portion Of Messrs. Cotes
& Davies planning mill, while the lumber in
,beir ward was scattered in all directions
Chmneys were blown down in every part
,r the CITY: Mr.. lie Claire's brick row ns
usual suffering severely in that way Scv
eral frame houses in course OF being erect
cd were blown down, while the tall tole-
Graph pole on the rivers bank was shlvcrea
into hundred pieces.
| JnRock Island the damage sustained D!
! tho storm. although as general was not s'
severe. On Illinois street the chmney'
and fire walls were pretty general y blown
down. The brick residence of NJ. ". Con
way, Esq, was Injured to the amount ct tive
b,ndrnd dollars. A house in the Liver par
of,own occupied by DIR. Gibson, was struci
BY lightning and almost destroyed stun
,pr the Doctor, soaring his family, but IN
urine none. The lumber in the yards wa
thrown down and scattered in the streets
.bout one hundred feet Of the Ra'sfoa'
freight depot, was leyeled to the ground :
Mr. Webber's foundry and buildings attach
ed were injured to the amount OF a9ont ont
thousand dollars. Numerous chlmhey'
we're blown down and roofs thus injured
On the river the Ben Campbell had mel
chimneys blown down: the J. Wilson wa
blown from her moorings and drlited up 'h'
slough with her wharf boat attached the ~
F,le storm whc7!bcst, Emma Harmon, bEok