Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-16
THE GALE AT BUFFALO.
4 Portion of the City Flooded, Property
Destroyed and Lives Lost.

Destroyed and Lives Lost.
PUFFILo, n Y, Oct. 16-The most dis
astrous storm that Buffalo has known for
many years struck this city Thursday even
ing. The wind blew sixty-three miles an
hour, raising the lake from six to twelve feet,
flooding all the lower edges Of the city, cover
ing the Island, the Tiff farm, the lake road
and the entire Thirteenth ward Many
houses were moved from their foundations,
and at least score of dwellings We're
demolished Five lives are reported lost
The whole western and southern edge of the
city was flooded.
The scenes of misery and destitution on the
island and along the water front Friday
morning were beyond example 1t was esti-
mated that over 200 women and children
were absolutely without food .and shelter
The island beach presented scene of desc
latIuu and distress. The little frame houses
of the squatters along the sea wall We're
washed over tine West Shore and b., N. y. q,
J. TRACES most of them in the condition of
kindling wood, and wrecks were scattered
about in every direction, while amidst the
ruins of their homes the poor people were
crying and wringing their hands over the
loss of nearly everything they had in the
world. The tracks of the West Shore were
torn up and washed back in some places a
distance of ten feet.
W hen the waves began their work of de-
StructiCn on the little farm houses, driving
the inmates into the water, four brave young
men secured two skiffs and went to the res
cue performing many deeds of valor About
twenty families owe their lives to the hero
ism of the quartctte
On tile shore road beyond the Tiff farm
the storm wrought great destruction. Fri
day morning the dead body Of an old man,
John Edwards. was found swaving back and
forth III four feet Of water, 2Dl feet back
from the lake.
The beach roud from the Lehigh tracks
onward, in the direction of Bay View was
covered with foaming sea The water had
swept back over the meadows wrecking every
house within sight. Jacob Dietch, toll-gate
keeper on the road to Bay View lost two chill
drcn, Annie aged I, and Jacob aged |, from
exposure The horrors of the night were be
gun when the wind and surging water
wrenchcd the building from its fastenings
aud carried it three-quarters Of q mile. The
parents were saved after II frightfu expert
eIiee, Mr.. and Mrs. Quinn newly married
! couple were driven from their house and took
| refuge III Il tree near the beach remaining
| there ali night. Their house was afloat on
the meadows Friday morning quarter of a
| mile away, a saloon was carried 400 feet
| inland. The Queen City Rowing clubs boat
house, iilled with valuable boats. was swept
| away at midnight; loss about $1,000 The
yacht Emma b. was wrecked and sunk off
Porter avenue
In the city proper trees were blown down,
windows smashed and much other havoc
caused by the storm. The north wing of
the new music hall, in course of
construction was completely wrecked
roof and all being gone, 1t is estimated that
the loss in this instance will reach So, 0Oc.
The tower of the new Emanuel Baptist church
orner Thirteenth and Rhode Island streets
eighty feet high, new and built of wood, fell
| into the street about So'clock Thursday even
| ing. The loss is estimated at S25,o0N
A subscription has been started for the re
lief of the destitute people on the island and
along the beach.