The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-10
ELECTRIC HAVOC.
TERRIFIC STORMS IN WISCONSIN,
ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA
Remarkable Electrical Phenomena
Sparta, Wis, Right in the Track of
the Terror r. Trains Blown From
the Traek-Other Damages,

MILWAUKEE Wis, July 10.-A terrific
storm passed over Wisconsin Wednesday
night, doing great damage and, it is feared,
causing the loss Of several lives. The worst
reports come from Sparta, where the storm
developed into cyclone The fine brick
residence of DR.. Garrett is sadly wrecked,
and the frame dwelling of Hon A. E. Black.
man has also suffered severely. The roofs
were blown from the city hail. the Heller
block and from the building occupied jointly
by 5. Holmes as grocery store ard Potter
Palmer as meat market The steeple of
the Baptist church was blown down, doing
considerable damage to the building, and
the Catholic church is completely gutted as
the result OF falling belfry. Half dozen
barns are in ruins, and many residences
have suffered seriously in roofs and chin
neys. Many of the streets are well nigh
impossible by reason of the torn shade
trees, fences and sidewalks. The French
plate windows of Thayer's bank and of
Cheney's jewelry store were blown in, while
scarcely whole pane of glass remains on
the north side of the Ida house. At the
Milwaukee & St. Paul depot the coal shed
Is wrec ecked and fourteen cars, including the
coaches used on the Viroqua branch, were
blown from the side track, most
of them stopping on the main
line and rendering the passage
of trains impossible. A number of cars are
also off the track at the northwestern
depot The damage will run up into the
thousands A freight train was blown from
the track north of Sparta and wrecked.
At Mauston and Lisbon the telegraph in
struments were burned up by lightning.
All along the line from Sparta TO this city
heavy damage is reported The storm was
general over the entire state, but as tele
graph wires are down particulars come il
slowly.
In this city the storm was fearful, anC
there was most wonderful electrical phe
nomenon. A ball of fire struck the st. Pau
| elevator and damaged it considerably, bu
| fortunately did not set it on fire. Many
other places were struck by lightning.
The wires are down between here aut
Oshkosh, but noon passengers bring wor
that the storm did great damage there
many buildings in Oshkosh were entirely de
stroyed. AS far as it is yet known, no live
were lost during the tornado, but ssvera
were injured by flying timters and fallin
/ buildings, but no one fatally. The expos
tion building and St Paul chapel are two c
the largest buildings that were demolished
the exposition building stands, and fence
around the fair ground are a
blown down to the ground. The turr
fest, which was to have been held
the exposition building, will have to hunt u
another place. Luckily, not many boa
were on the lake; all that we're have turne
up all right Many small buildings, barn
etc, in Oshkosh were destroyed, and tt
property damage is very heavy.
Great damage is also reported fro
around Madison.
MADISON, Wis, July 10-A terrific tor
nado passed over this city at 9 o'cloc
Wednesday night, doing great damage
Nearly 100 trees in the Capitol par
were broken down, and the tin ro
ON the north wing was blow
off. The tin roof on Postmsst
General Villas fine residence W
blown eff and considerable damal
done by water. The spire of the Presbyt
rian church was blown down. Over s
shade trees were Frustrated in the city. T
loss by damage to the houses, barns, bos
houses, etc, and shade trees, will reach Sd
900 to $40,0 No one was hurt