The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-08
RAINS IN THE WEST.
a Waterspout Causes Destruction In
Kansas and Missouri.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, May 7.--One of the
heaviest rain storms ever known in the vi
cinity of Springfield, Mo-, took place yester-
day afternoon, doing vast amount of dam
age to prapas4yz-lsstss i'm the town osuu Tllc
surrounding country. The rain was preced-
ed by hail, which fell thick ana fast for
about fifteen minutes Many of the hail
stones were from half an inch to two inches
in diameter The rain began to fall soon af-
ter noon, and continued to pour down in tor
rents for nearly three hours. 1t caused all
the creeks and their branches to become
much swollen, tearing away fences, 1nundat-
ing the bottom lands and badly damaging
wheat and corn. Jordan Creek, which runs
directly through Springfield rose higher
than for many years, overhoWlng the low
land and driving 80 or 40 families from their
homes. Some of the women and children
were carried out on horseback and on mems
shoulders, to escape drowning. The water
in places rose even into the second stories of
dwellings. About half a mile of the Gulf
Railway track within the city limits was
completely submerged, and the grades were
of the city's wooden bridges were washed
away, besides sections of sidewalk. The
Easements Of number of business houses
were filled with water. Some of the smaller
foundations, and large amount of lumber
was swept away. The total damage in the
city caused by the flood, is estimated at $75,-
600; in the surrounding country it is $4,000.
in Usage City.
OsAGE CITY, May THE heavist rain
and hail storm ever known in the vicinity of
Usage City, Kansas, tool place yesterday. 1t
began about a. NJ. and continued for thirty
minutes, until the ground was covered with
hail stones. In many places they were piled
up several inches deep. Eighty per cent of
all the exposed window glass on the north
side of the houses, was broken. The storm
came from the northeast, and did not extend
more than mile west of the Santa Fe rail-
road at Usage. The rain fell in great tor
rents and the country is flooded. The dam
age done to the fruit and growing crops is
very great.
At Emporia, Kansas, place in the same
region with Usage, water spout passed
down Jacobs creek, IA miles southwest OF
Emporia, yesterday b. y. Jacobs. a farmer
and two young children, and his brother
Charles in wagon. He then started to flee,
but they were oyertaken by the torrent. 1t
sweyt away the vehicle and its occupants.
Mrs. Jacobs and the younger child were
drowned, while Mr.. Jacobs nearly persisted
in endeavoring to save them. The brother
saved himself and the other child.
FORT ScoTr, Kan, May 7.-One of the
most severe storms of the season passed ov-
er Fort Scott yesterday noon. About o'clock
dam broke, and an immense body Of water,
uniting with an already swollen stream
called Bush Run, rushed down the valley. A
house occupied by Sarah Brown, widow,
was struck by the torrent and swept about
100 yards down the stream, where it lodged
among the trees. Mrs. Brown and four OF
her children were in the house at the time OF
the break in the dam. The water rose rap
idly around it to the depth of several feet.
The mother held her little infant, months
old, in her arms above the water, leaving her
older children to care for themselves. She
suddenly noticed that her year old boy was
drowning, and in attempting to save him,
the infant slipped from her arms and was
drowned before aid could reach it. The re-
mainder of the family were rescued The
damage in Fort Scott and vicinity resulting
from the flood will amount to several thou
sand dollars.
At Nevada.
NEVADA, No., May THE damage to
streets, buildings and culverts by a storm at
Nevada, yesterday will reach $4,000 The
Missouri Pacific track was washed in several
places letween Nevada and Fort Scot, and
trains will be interrupted for "a hours. The
crops are seriously damaged