The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-11-18
FEARFUL STORM.

/
A FRIEND at Berrien Springs, Mich,
sends us the following account, copied
from LEGAL paper, of fearful storm
that occurred at that place on the 29th
of October last:
One Of the most terrible storms ever
known in this country visited this
place last Friday week. 1t was per-
feet deluge of Ice and rain-balls of
| ice one to two inches i'm diameter. All
small animals, hens, turkeys, ducks,
geese, pigs, etc, that were not under
shelter or make their escape, were in
stantIy killed. Nearly every light OF
glass on the north west side of build
ings in town, was broken within five
minutes after the storm commenced,
/ aud banks of iceAgaimst the buildings
from one to two feet deep; and there
was scarcely light of glass left in the
| windows on the north west side ofihc
| buildings in town after the storm. AL
| the window glass in the drug and
hard ware stores, in town, for sale, was
| used at once to replace the broken
glass in the windows, aud over 100
boxes of glass have been ordered,
anew. to make up the deficiency.
| were boarded up, for the time being,
awaiting the arrival of glass and, up
to this writing the glass are not near
all replaced. Fruit and vegetables
that were not gathered were nearly all
ruined. Trees were cut and trimmed
by the large hail stones, and small fruit
trees were, in many instances, nearly
ruined. Many reofs were so damaged
by the great hail stones that they had
to be reshingled Hens, turkeys, s,ducks
and geese, and in one instance, small
pigs that were caught in the storm,
were killed instantly. Such time
was never witnessed before by the
Oldest Inhabitants. A flood of rain
fell with the hail and the great balls
of Ice were floating on the surface OF
the ground like anchor ice in the river
in the spring time. Teams that were
out were almost unnanagable, and
quite SO, in some instances; bat for
iunately, no lives were lost; although
those that were out in the storm had
their clothing tattered and torn, and
their bodies bruised by the great balls
of ice SO that they carried the marks
for days. Horses, cattle and hogs were
bruised and cut by the hail that thew
were bleeding. During the storm il
was almost as dark as night, and the |
thunder pealed in the heavens, and the !!
flashed fearfully, and all |
nature seemed to shrink from the ter |
riblc scene. Fortunately, there was
no wind to speak Of, or, there is no
telling what damage might have becu
done. The damage was great as it is,
great, but our people seem to
bear it well. The storm lasted only
about fifteen minutes, when every
body, almost, rushed into the street
10 see the sight and ascertain the
amount of damage done, and Oh!
what sight presented itself TO view.
The town looked as though it had been
sacked by some guerrilla band. Itr re-
minded us of some towns south dur.
ng the war, that had been riddled
with shot. Hardly light of glass
eft in the front windows of the stores
md buildings on the south side of
Ferry ST., great panes of glass In The
show windows all shattered and gone.
1t is impossibly to describe the scene.
1t could not be fully realized only to
zee with ones own eyes. 1t is impos-
'ible to go into details of the damage
lone by the storm in this tQwn. The
glass in the north windows OF the
'hurches was completely rIddled; so, I
90, in DeFields Hotel The Reed {
House did not suffer to the same ex- f.;
ent from the fact that the blinds pro- s
ected them in front; SO, loo iu the
COURT House, still, 4 great amount OF 1
!lass is broken in ali the buildings. {
court was in session, but was broken [
Up in double quick time by the confu- i
ion of the storm. The Court finished {
case Oh hand the next day, holding I
orth in the Supervisors room of the |
then adjourned for one week c
rom the next Monday 10 give oppor- /
urity to repair the County buildings, |
% give something of an idea OF the l
mount of glass broken in the hqiia- G
hgs, the DeFieId House reports $50;
,Ourt House, 200; j. n. Plat, $50 DR. {
lephart q Sons over 500 VIM g
over |, 100; Mrs. Wilkinson /
riyate dwelling, 1876; Andrew Mars, T.
rivate dwelling, 1913 /; and so on, every +
yelling and business house with q
lore or less glass broken. One man {
ad his winter apples picked and lay S
~ OH the ground in his orchard and +
ley were completely ruined for fam p
y purposes. Preston Dooz had 500 "
eads Of cabbage that were standing C
ut, cut all 10 pieces and completely p
lined, &c, &c, &c. e