Omaha daily bee., 1884-06-26
WICKED WAlRl.
II Destroys Floral Hall and Does Other
Damage.
Several Valuable Horses Have a
III Narrow Escape from Death.
The Circus Tents Laid Flat, Trees
Broken, Races Spoiled and
Movabies Scattered.
WICKED WHlRl.

shortly after noon yesterday proved .
serious one. The heaviest damage was
that at the driving park and fair grounds
where the large and beautiful building
known as Floral Temple was laid low and
all broken into pieces, making a terrible
wreck. The building vas put up two
years ago at IN expense of about 81, 900,
and wal the finest exposition
building for the displays of
art, fruit, flowers, etc., owned by any
fair association in the state. 1t consisted
of two sections, crossing in the center,
the extent of each being so by 100 feet,
and the whole ~aurmounted by a tower,
making a very attractive building, indeed.
1t now lays a complete wreck. The west
wing was first caught by the wind, the
doors flying open, and the wind getting
a chance at the inside, and speedily
bringing it all down. There were
a number of very valuable horses
in the building, but most of these were
removed. Still, when the building went
down with a crash, there were several
horses inside of it, among them Yelox,
the celebrated Denver horse who the day
before won the 1896 race. Col. Daily's
little pacing mare, which created so much
enthusiasm in the previous days races,
and for which he has been offered so, 500,
waa alan In tho rpraolr rs yUoIo
Cary had his valuable sorrel mare
in the building and Bill Lacy had his
horse and buggy. When the building
went with a crash it was of course sup
posed that these horses must have been
killed OF. at least badly hurt, but they all
managed to escape any serious injury,
though the escape was miraculous. Col.
Daily's mare had a heavy timber resting
across her, but when got out was found
to be all right except a slight scratch.
In removing the timber, one
man, John Benson, a rubber from Des
Moines, was hurt. The timber in being
moved slipped and one end fell upon his
arm, breaking it in two places. The
buggy belonging to Bill Lacy was
smashed in the wreck, but his horse es-
capped injury, and when released by his
WINNER spoke, as plainly as in words,
his Joy at getting out. 1t is a matter of
congratulation that no more serious hurt
was done to man or to beast, but the
loss of the building is a heavy one to the
society, there being no tornado insurance
on it, and the whole being o complete
wreck.
Neil Voorhis, just before the full force
of the storm struck the building, was on
the roof getting down the flags, of which
there were a number, one of Ireland, one
of Germany, etc. He felt the building
quaking while he was upon the roof, but
got down in ample time by making haste.
The wind also struck the north end of
the amphitheatre with force enough to
tear off about fifteen feet of the roof,
carrying part of it across the track and
the other part clear off to the west.
Some of the cattle sheds and sheep
pens were ripped up, turned over, and
scattered about, but the long line of
stables were not injured. The boarding
tent was of course thrown down, one of
the entrance gates to the grounds was
blown off, and lighter movables we're
scattered about promiscously.
A sucking colt, which has been pas
tured on the driving park, had a leg
badly broken.
The rain tell in torrents also, and the
track was flooded with water, but it is
thought that if the sun does its expect
ed share of the work, the track will be
in condition to-day for the races to be |
given. 1t. has been arranged for yester-
days races to come otfto.day, and if there
is any time left her the events on
the programme announced for to-day will
be taken up, Considering the heavy loss
which has fallen on the association, ev-
erybody who has complimentaIies should
toss them aside and purchase tick cts,
and those who have not thought of at
tending the races should turn out, SO that
the gate money may be liberal enough to
be expressive somewhat of the SYM
pathy felt by the community.
The storm of wind and rain caused q
general havoc elsewhere in the city. 1t
caused trouble at the circus grounds, but
not 80 much as it might have done had
storm struck a little later, when the
tent would have been filled with men,
women and children. The tents were all
blown fiat, and ripped and torn some
what. Two center poles were broken off
close to the butts, but Mr.. Doris told our
inquirer that the loss of property would
not amount to 1915. 1t looked worse than
it really was. Everything was drenched
with rain, and scattered about, and with
mud, water, and general disorder, the
scene was one neither of joy or beauty.
M was hurt, however, and the ru-
NOR that a man had been killed there
proved to have no foundation in fact.
Around town signs were tossed about,
trees were broken and foliage in
iured. One large tree in front of Sol
Fosters was broken off as though it were
\ pipestem, and yet it measured nearly
inches through.
The most serious damage to any build
ng in the city tho Junction saloon,
owned by Henry Wagner. The brick
gable end was blown off and the front
smashed in.
The brickyards in the upper part of
he city suffered considerably by water,
md one or two windmills were bio wn
Town.
The Boston Tea company's sign on
Peril street was blown off and shattered
Iome glass.
j. 7. Stewards fence was blown down.
A portion of McKeller's vineyard was
,orn down.
Bayliss park, which has been 80 noted
or its beauty, bore a desolate and wreck
ID appearance yesterday, nearly all the
being more or less broken down.
The iron sheds at the east end of the