The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-07
TUESDAYS Storm.

ruTtneT news from the StOrm Ol lueS-
day afternoon shows that in Iowa it was
very violent. North of us, in the Duck
Greek valley and along Jersey ridge, it
was fierce and very destructive. In nearly
every orchard young fruit was knocked
off the trees in large quantities, and grow
ing crops were seriously injured. Along
the Dubuque and Hickory Grove roads
there was hardly house within distance
of four miles from the creek that did not
have window glass broken by the hail.
Greenhouses were greatly damaged
Back of Davenport, hail stones were as
big as walnuts, 1t was in that vicinity
that half a dozen transfers, loaded with
straw for the Milan paper mills. were
caught and the wind picked up the most
of each load and carried it far away into
the fields the horses got frightened
and ran towards town as fast as the wind
would allow. What with wind, and rain
and hail, and runaways, the drivers had a
terrible experience. John Hern's team
was injured badly, and his wagon broken.
Mr.. John Moth was there with a team,
which undertook to run from the storm
and whirling hay, and succeeded, leaving
Mr. n before great while on the ground
with sprained ankles. Some of the horses
which came in from the north had large
Jumps on their tanks, caused by the pelt.
ing of big hail.
La Black Hawk township, Scott county,
opposite Andalusia, great damage was
done to windows, fruit trees, etc., and we
expect to hear of further damage in Scott
county.
ACCIDENT TO THE ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE.
During the storm the raft tow boat
Champion was dropping raft through the
Rock Island bridge. After letting 60 the
raft the boat was backing to pass through
the draw span. The draw span was il
rapid motion and almost open. The pow
erful pressure Of the wind carried the spar
past the rests on the draw pier and swung
it almost around again, swapping the stout
one and three-quarter inch wire cable:
and breaking some of the minor parts Of
the machinery. The wind then revolveC
the span the other way ani the spar
jammed the Champion, which was blown
down to it, between it and the draw pier
Fortunately, however, the Champion wal
not close enough to the span to lose any
thing but her jack staff. In half an hour
after the accident the draw was ready t
open again. The pulley packets were
broken, the sheaths of the plunging shafts
and the cables snapped like ropes. A:
one end whrled to the south abutment, /;
rope was thrown about post and fastened
to the iron fence on the east side of thu
abutment-and away went the fence will
the iron bridge, as if it were no stronge
than so much lath.
Those who saw the occurrence say TIA
the wind handled the draw span, which
weighs 500 tons, like a weather cock. A!
soon as possible rope lines, worked by tn
portable engines, were attached to tn,
south pier of the bridge, and the draw
span was controlled. About two week
must elapse before the damage to tn
main machinery of the bridge can be re
paired Meantime boats will have to pas
through the north side of the draw spa
and will be warned to that effect by
danger signal.
For a few minutes there was the mos
intense excitement and anxiety at tn
bridge for its safety.
On the raft there must have been som
Is or 20 men at the oar stems, in Oh
drenching rain and pelting hail, workin
| for dear life to keep the raft from going
pieces on this shore.
| In Davenport, for a short time, no sig
of houses or bluffs could be seen, and @
this side of the river our streets were
cloud of dust. Fortunately, very fortul
ately for Rock Island the clouds lifted ;
they passed over US. A great blac
column Of cloud reached, apparently, to Il
earth. back of Davenport, and around
and high in the air the jagged clouds WEI
a rapidly whirling mass, showing, VIII
, 'Old Probs" had predicted, viz: "Opposir
cooler northerly and warmer souther
Winds" etc. As the mass lifted above
and passed south, we felt thankful tina
this time at least, we we're to escape harr
, It was probably q local agitation. not e