The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-06-25
That Storm.

The EAGLE may be "nearly lightning" but
its eyry is no match for that subtitle fluid when
accompanied by flashing winds and rolling
thunders it leaps from the drifting clouds,
and, like a burning meteor, with forked
tongue, riffs to ruin and desolation the
home that has been saved from the earn
ings of long years of toll. To explain. We
were building n little cottage home in this our
adopted city-a shelter for our wife and dear
ously sacrificed our old home in another por-
ton of the state, and had twisted and strained
our credit to the last degree. But We thought
it pretty and complete in its way, and rs its
unpretentious proportions arose above the
green prairie sward we were proud and happy.
Reese Il Sawyer were the contractors, good,
honest artiZans, who, for our sake, had taken
much pride in the execution of n design that
was evolved from our own brain. And withal
it was 4 curious aflair-that eagle eyry, with
its orel.hooded, bull s-eye and gothic windows;
its eresting and finals; its fancy chimney,
built by lIartell & Longbottom, and UMPIRE
tentious little parlor, with plaster cornices,
reliefs and centre pieces, done up by Wickery
and Fuller. 1t was almost finished, and the
husehold was looking forward with happy an
ticipations TO the 18th of July, the day we were
TO take possession. But alas for human eX-
pcctations. The terrific electric storm that
came sweeping down the Valley last Saturday
evening took the shining mark and poured
through it, roof, walls and casing the burn
in- Nui no If vi ia Tha
chimney-capita. shaft and base-was gone,
the cresting was torn from its place, the oriel
window hung loosely at the side, bereft of its
glass and cimetry, and every room except the
kitchen was torn and wrecked. and the beau
tiful white walls narred and disfigured. Five
men were in the building at the time, Wick
cry, Arment. Hindcrshot. Fuller and Moll.
Mr.. Moll was thrown clear across the room in
which he was standing and picked up more
dead than alive. All the others, although
badly shocked, We're in no way hurt For
their almost miraculous escape we felt most
thankful. for the lightning had went all over
the building and down every petition but one.
But we were not the greatest sufferers by that
fearful storm. as will be seen by sad obituary
III MI. EstlH mouse
in the upper part of the city was moved from
its foundation. The round house was moved
five inches from its anchorage Mr.. Cooks
barn WAS thrown down. bruisins his horses
and wrecking 4 buggy. The barn of NJ. r.
Moser was blown down. A drove of hogs on
the bottom part of town were all knocked
down by a stroke Of lightning and one Of them
killei. Mr.. Richmond's house. west OF town.
had the end torn out. a pair of horses were
killed northeast Of town. Other damage no
doubt. was done of which We have not yet
heard. The rain caune down in torrents, and
the driving winds, bearing the dripping clouds
down 10 the very earth. swep; on with almost
irresistible force. The heavens were lighted
up with a continual binding hight while the
rolling, crashing reverberations Of heavens ar
tler. shook the very foundations of the earth
Ii was fear.u. and we hope we may never
witness another such a storm or be compelled
to bear such results rs il lett Us in its train.
And we hope those Of our subscribers and
Others who know themselves indebted TO us
will come forward and help us out of the pinch
into which we have been unfortunately placed:
and we believe they will.