Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-16
THURSDAYS STORM.
The Wind Reaches the Great Velocity
of II Miles-Fears that Many Lives are
Lost on the Lskes-Fortv Houses Des.
troyed in Buffalo and Many People
Turned Out of Doors.
CHICAGO. Oct. Is,

Dispatches from various points in North
ern Indiana and Norther sndn Central Illinois
report considerable dsmage done bv the
severe storm of yesterday. A number of
frame buildings in the suburbs of Chicsgo
were blown down. The town of Lehman,
consisting of about fifty frame houses and
located on the line OF the Chicago and North
western road was entirely demolished. The
buildings were not completed SO that no one
was hurt.
1T was one of the phenomenal storms Of
the year." said the signal officer, "and there
are some points about it which will be CT
great interest TO the scientific world. Ii was
characterized BY one of the lowest barometric
pressures ever observed. At Chicago when
the storm centre was there, the barometer
registered just 29, 09S corrected for sea level.
There has never been storm in which all
Indications of its formation were more de-
cided."
The storm on the lake was the severest that
has been known for a number OF wears At
about o'clock, the wind which had been
blowing fresh from the south, veered sudden
ly TO the west, and ushered in gale which
steadily increased in violence until 3 O'clock
in the afternoon, when it gradually subsidized.
AT 2, the m n at the crib reported that the
wind was blowing II miles an hour, which
was the greatest velocity attained by the
storm.
Fortunately there were few vessels outside
the harbor and comparatively little damage
was done. heavy fleet left here for the
east shore, Wednesday. and grave fears are
entertained for its safety. The general opin-
ion among vessel men was that the full force
of the gale would be felt of the east shore
and that reports of accidents would be rcceiv-
ed from Michigan TODAY.
The propeller, Jay Gould, came in from
Lake Superior last night. She was ten hours
late. Capt. Macanlav says he has never ex-
perienced so heavy a storm on Lake Michi-
gan. He sailed the direct course from Man
'ltus and had a wind almost aheam. A tire.
mendous sea WAS running The seas swept
broadside over the steamers hurricane deck
and the captain was thoroughly drenched d
while stan ing on top the pilot house He
saw no vessel in distress
BUFFALO, Oct. 10.
The gale which visited Buffalo last night
did a vast amount of damage. For a time
the wind reached velocity of 20 miles an
hour On the lake front forty small houses
were totally destroyed by the wind and watet
and the occupants had to fly their lives.
Several persons are known TO have perished.
The bodies of two children were recovered
Ahis hPiulus hIeb TWO DOulcs WnlCn are
unknown Twenty or thirty families have
been rendered destitute and an appeal for aid
has been issued.
Throughout the city many buildings were
damaged The most serious was to the
splendid new Music Hall in the course of
construction. A large section of the outer
wall was blown down shaking houses in the
vicinity like an earthquake. The damage to
the building is estimated at $4,000. Mrs.
Roberts saloon and boarding house on the
turnpike road was carried about five hundred
feet. Officers found family named Quinn
up in a tree. Their house mad been demol
ished. Their hired man who could not climb
tree was drowned. Another house on the
turnpike was carried away and the family is
missing. The scene on the beach this morn
ing from the foot of Gasson street for half
mile or more to the east, battle description
People were passing in crowds over heaps of
wrecked houses and along the beach near the
sea wall where the houses had stood on
spiles. OF forty or more houses that stood
on that part of the island yesterday, but
three or four remain intact.
DETROIT, Oct. l5
Reports are coming slowly of the effects
of yesterdays storm. From all parts of the
state come the same story of damaged build
ings, ruined fences, broken telegraph and
telephone poles, uprooted trees and a general
state of decentralization, but as yet no lives have
been reported lost.
Two fair buildings at Schoolcroft have
been so badly damaged that the fair will be
postponed The roof of Adrian College chap
ell was blown off ard the wall blown down
Carnes' furniture factory roof was blown fl
and sic 900 worth OF furniture damaged. 1t
is impossible to give any idea of the agggre-
gate damage but it has been heavy.