Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-02-01
The Storm.

The storm OF the 2lst ult., we find on
consultation Of our exchanges, was general
in its extent, and equally disastrous in its
effects. The Chicago Press contains the
best summary OF its result in that city. II
says
We alluded briefly yesterday morning to
the terrible storm OF Sunday. twas tortu-
nately not SO bitterly cold during the day,
or the suffering of those in poor houses
would have been extreme. The wind olew
a tempest, and for tweDty-fuur hours lhe
air was thick with the falling and driving
snow. InRandolph street tin roof was
blown from the building opposite Eddy ;
livery stable AT the corner OF north tlark
and Indiana streets, a house owned by H.
Lailin was unrooted and the roof carried on
to the building OF Thomas Foley, crushing y
in and alarming the family. The gable end
of the dwelling OF Mr.. Girouy At the corner
Of Kinzie and Dearborn streets was blown
in. forcing the family to abandon the house
to the elements, which contrived 10 find
their way into every nook and Granny. In
Vulnerable awning and signs were torn from
their fastenings and whlrled OF on the wings
Of the wind Balustrades and balconies at
tached to houses for more ornament than
use were compelled to .'come down." lso-
lated buildings shook frightiuly with the
sudden gusts, and nervous people abandoned
upper stories Nobody braved the fury the
Gale who could stay indoors after the MD
die ofthe day The church bells rang Tor
morning service, and few OF the most
COURAGEOUS and devotional gathered with
| in the consccra,ed walls, but the church
| towers were silent all the rest OF the day
except as the wind spirits howled around
| their turrets. Happy was every one
who had house to keep in, and be thank
| full
Through the day occasional glimpsss
could be caught of a small vessel, lying at
anchor near the breakwater south OF the
harbor, which was conjecured to be the sloop
Mary Ann, of Racine, bound Tor this port
with wood A number Of persons coulc be
seen moving upon her deck. Intelligence,
supposed to be reliable, is received that she
| left that place Saturday with eight persons
on board and cargo Of wood. While she
was in siaht from the harbor re. she was
surrounded bv ice and rode well, but
Sunday night the wind changed to the west
ward. ana Yesterday lA4S ny
the vessel were out of sight. She IS said
10 have been staunch little vessel, and
there is bare possibility Of escape for
her, vet it is most probable that the vessel
and men went down during that wild
night.
After the wind changed to the westward a
steam dredge, lying on the Illinois Central
basin broke from her moofings and driited
through the ope ming into the lake, and Is
gone no one KIN VS. where. She was owned
by S. Durfee, Esq, and was worth about
So 900. No one was near her when she
broke away.
Yesterday morning the streets were well
| blocked up. The drift lay in all conceiva-
bic shapes, and in all manner of places
Stairways to public buildings were full d
| snow; alleys were impenetrable; sidewalks
| were impossible. Soon the busy spade and
shovel wrought a change and the world be-
gan to move But even at dark yesterday
the streets were only half passable. Many
OF the drifts on Lake street are ten feet IN
height