The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-06-30
THE STORMS OF LAST WEEK.
A Fearful Destruction Ct Property and Of cr'ps
ia Several Sections Of ssdawick county.

Our record Of storms for the season has
been supplemented by one at home, the sum
Of " hose disastrous figure is dscouraging in
deed, TO all, and to many farmers OF SeGg-
wick county, Notwithstanding. FOllowin.. u
three-wecks spell of intense heat and drouih
heavy rains commenced falling last Wedncs-
day. On Friday night, what seemed a cu-
minatiOn Of the storin, swept over the valley.
The fall of rain during the night was unpie-
ccdcntcd ami the electrical phenomena Won
derrul. With this storm, which filed streams
and rayincs bank full, aud converted dcpres-
siOns into lakes. came Il hail and wind storm
that, within the compass Of Il few minutes.
swept to destruction the fruits Of months OF
toll and hope. The first rains came from the
northeast, an exceptional direction. after
wards from south of west, a still more cxccp-
tional direction. but during the fall OF hail
the wind was almost directly from the north
and of volume that was remarkable. Ia
the space Of this article tithc Of the de-
struction. by the @ind and hail combined,
cannot DE given. While the force of the
wind was widespread and general, the hail
fell only in streaks and spots of greater or
less area. Along the brow OF the high prai-
ric, east of the city. the hail tell for nearly AN
hour cutting down TO the earth all ,cgcta-
ton, while in the city no hail worth mention
ing, fell. In the extensive orchard of NJ. r.
Moser fruit, the next morning. could have
been scooped up under the trees by the sho,-
q full. while half mile distant no damage
was done. On further south aud north, in
the general direction Of the brow of the prai-
rio, fields of corn, Of oats, and Of wheat were
battered aud cut down to u level with the
ground. This is true from at least the south
eastern line OF Harvey county to FL Paso. or
further south, in this county, But the most
dircful accounts come from the west side OF
the river, Il section Of country lying between
the Cowskin and Minnesota river. There
farm after farm, crop upon crop, orchards
and orchards. were ruined by the relentless
aud destructive visitation. In some places
the width OF tie hail fall is nearly ten miles.
To give the name aud amount OF loss Of the
different persons would ill columns. As wit
messed and detailed by dozen different men.
some of whom are among the sufferers. is al
most past belief. In some fields four andiye
feet corn was cut entirely down. and wheat
Of one and two hundred acre fields pounded
into the earth.
The storm WAS repeated again Saturday
night, less the hail and wind. in which Lieut..
Pendergast, OF this city, was killed The
south tower Of TIE VI +. Church was consi,,-
erahiy torn up, and a building belonging 10
Capt. J. b. Cary rae cd. During the storm
Of Friday night the residence OF Z. II. Ab-
bolt was struck. the lightning knocking down
the chimney and tearing up the roof. For
tunatcly none Of the family were seriously
hurt. The sheep sheds Of Fox & A,kew in
Minneha township were struck and thirteen
head OF fine grade Cotswolds instantly Killed.
These mishaps are additional TO the killing
Of a COW for Mr.. Robert +. Lawrence and an
other for Rev. Gates. Throughout the couu-
ty large amount of wheat cut by headers
had just been stacked aud the loss from thi,
source viii no donbt be very large. The
Cowskin. Ninnesca,. and Chisholm were all
bank full. Saturday, and a portion of the dam
at Hays's mill and at Marshall, wa, washed
AWAY