Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-15
A KANSAS HAIL STORM.
Running Train Through showers of
Ice Bullets


The Topeka Commonwealth publishes
aletter from lady who was in the midst
OF the recent great hail storm in Kansas.
She says:
Inc night was so pleasant that we slept
sitting up till the new conductor woke us
after leaving Nickerson. The morning
renamed pleasant Till an ominOus cloud
appeared In the southeast eXtreNe horl-
Z0n, at Florence, as the train pushed out.
IL rose higher and extended nOrthward,
like great dark wave, entirely obhterat-
ing the light OF the sky over which It
spread. AS it rose higher and spread
WIDER IL became impregnated with that
Iurid green d1 re that seems to indicate
death and fearful storm. At this time
tnere was scarcely breath of air, but
tne great Dlack, greenish volume mad
darkened all the earth around and almost
made the use OF lamps in the cars neces-
sary. An earnest prayer for preservation
hlled my soul. when all at once came the
conviction, "Move to the other side" BY
thls time the sky on the north presented
a fearful appearance, and the wind was
beginning to rise. | oDeyed the sacred
summons, for as such accepted it, and
asked the young lady in whose pleasant
company had been to move on the south
side oi the car with me. We sought our
new posltlOn with young man VINO &C.
cupled two entire seats, briefly stating we
ielt 1t to be dangerous on the north side.
just as we got seated a laundering crasn
and lightning flash heralded the burst
Ing OF the storm. Then followed such
shower OF ice bullets as my eyes never
witnessed before, and | nope never will
again, and Immediately the breaking of
the window occurred by which had been
slltlng, covering the seat with the heavy
broken glass. Your readers will not be-
IeNe tne extraordinary size of the hall
stones-nOt like marbles alone, but from
That size, without any eXaggeration,to the
enormous size of goose egg. In few
minutes every window on the north side
OF the car was broken, but one, though the
conductor and brakeman, quick as hu-
man hands could work, closed the venti-
lators and put down the slat slutters,
which prevented the great hail stones
from striking the passengers. 1t did
seem. as they fell so heavily on top OF our
car, that they would fall through on our
heads, and some did, | was told, in the
sleeper, whose windows were not pro-
tected by the common stats. The ground
was literally covered with hail stoues.
many OF which must have weighed a
pound or more, and great damage must
have Ueen done. One of the most wonder
full sights was the dropping of these great
hail stones into the streams near and
over which we passed, causing as they
fell so rapidly, mountainous and wonder
full bubbles. This storm lasted an hour
and quarter. AS we came to Usage
City, the earth for some distance was
deluged, even houses were in water, but
the hail did not seem to extend farther
east than Emporia.
Fitty-iour windows were smashed to
pieces in our train altogether. The COM
pany provided new cars for the passen-
gers farther east, for ours were full of
broken glass and water. We thank
God for the preservation of our lives,
and hope the faithful engineer was not
hurt.