The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-20
WITH FRIGHTTUL FURY.
A Terrible Wind Storm Visits Rock
Island. Causing Destruction
of Property.
The Josephine in Persi-The storms
Work ut Hampt0n--Damage
in the City.
A BIG BLOW.


Rock Island has always been so fortu-
nate in escaping loss. damage OF destruc-
ton resulting from the disturbances of
the elements, that the tidings which have
come too often during the past year of
the wreck and devastation of tornadoes,
cyclones and earthquakes. have not
brought to this city the same sorrow that
they have TO places where The people
have been taught by experience the &C
tual terror of any one of these disturb
ances of nature. 1t is for this reason
perhaps that our citizens and the people
in general of this vicr ity have not shown
the same disposition to respond either in
sympathy or in pecunisry way TO the
appeals that have come from stricken 10
calities. But when the dark. threatening
clouds rolled up in the west at the close
of day Saturday, and the peals of thun-
der, incessant flashes of lightning, furious
WIudS anu VI lbth ANiIi
the people of Rock Island thought they
would realize only too well the suffering
and terror that the elements are capable
OF inf1icting.
At about ten minutes before 6 o'clock
Saturday, there was certainly cause for
alarm in Rock Island if there ever was
in the history of the city's existence.
Little was thought of the heavy rain that
fell few minutes previous to that time,
so that when Captain Conger rang the
starting bell for the Josephine which
bora precious cargo of freight. in which
Rock Island was deeply interested. and
the boat backed out into the stream. he
had no idea that within sight of the
homes of his passengers he was encounter
storm that would endanger the lives of
those on board. Such was the case how>
ever, and if there was a panic on board
the Josephine. there was Just as much
anxiety on the shore and in the homes of
those who were out on the water in a
most terrific gale.
THE JOsEPHINEs PERIL.
The Josephine had just gotten under
full Roadway down stream and was about
opposite the Rock Island plow works
when she encount tered the storm, which
came up with a suddenness that added
terror to its fury. Fortunate, indeed, ii
was that the boats "nose" was toward
the wind; had it caught her sideways,
nothing coIld have prevented her capsiZ
ing. but she weathcred it through, and
though she was given full pressure of her
machinery. she could make but little
Roadway, and Capt Congcr devoted his
energies to keeping her straight ahead.
The craft stood it, though. and when
the Mary Morton. of the same line
arrived here later in the evening.
Capt. Dawley said that when he met the
Josephine below Buffalo she was sailing
along as sprightly rs if she had met with
no impeachment to her progress. The
Pittsburg. which was here earlier in the
afternoon with the St. Pau! Knights, met
the storm further down the river, but
Captain Kiilcen engineered her through
all right. The gay flags on both these
boats were gone, and the passengers
owe great deal to the captains and
crews. The St. Paul, of the White
Collar line had tussle with the wind
below here, at the end of which she
found herself on a sand>bar
THE FERRY
had left the Rock Island shore aud had
turned partially south to cross the river
when the wind struck her. Captain
Cameron was at the wheel. He Vainly
endeavOred to face the storm, and
worked both wheels for all that was in
them, but the boat was forced back up
into the slough, and landed near the Rock
Island s Peoria depot on bar, many of
her passengers being so badly frightened
that they leaped into the water and wad~
ed to the shore. A blast of wind struck
the waiting room on the ferry dock on
this side and blew it TO splinteTs, many
pieces of boards being carried some diss
lance up on the shore. Miss Louise
Boro was attending the fruit stand inside
and was the only occupant of the build
ing at the time. She felt the building
shaking and rushed to the door. She
tripped on the sill aud fell full length,
and it was a fortunate fall and afforded
her
A NARROW ESCAPE
and possibly saved her life, for when she
gained her feet, there was not vestige
left of the structure; even the stove was
in the river. Captain Robinson places his
loss at $500, and the structure which was
a new one will be rebuilt Immediately.
MIR. Boro lost his fruit, cigars, etc, and
his damage will be about $50. A show
case was all that was left. Skiffs along
the shore were lifted and carried consid>
cradle distance.
ON THE RAPIDS,
Wash. Hight the rapids pilot was taking
the F. G. A. Denkmann over the rapids,
and was at the mercy of the storm on the
dangerous passage of sigamour chain.
He handled the boat as well as possible,
but she went on the rocks and remained
there several hours. Fortunately she was
not seriously damaged. Whitney's fleet
n dn,,Sn hnatS ohiconi hnoto n;ln