Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-29
CHICAGo'S STORM.
Loss of Life and Fearful Destruction of
Observation-Disclosures


Loss of Life and Fearful Destruction nj
Property-mcidents.
CHICAGO. July 2Sth.-From all accounts
received to-day and this evening, last
nights storm was one of the worst ever
known in the history of the CITY, both for
the amount of rainfall and the damage
done
Aside from the awful catastrophe 81
Twenty-tirst and Levitt, where eight people
were killed by falling house, three lives
are known TO have been lost. One child
was killed by lightning, and two men
walking on the railroad track were stunned
by shock and killed by passing train.
Ibe damage 10 the basement stores in
the business part of the city is very great,
and In the resident district many houses
were more or less injured by wind and
lightning.
All along the outskirts of the citv the
storm may be traced by fallen trees and
wrecked fences and outbuildipgs.
Among dozens of other casualties, q case
is reported of patrolman, who, while re-
porting 10 the station sergeant over the
patrol telephone, was knocked senseless bv
shock of electricity and is in very seri-
GUS condition.
The tremendous rainfall raised the Chi
cage rlver rapidly, and all last night and
to-day 1t has been flowing into Lake Michi-
gan at speed of six miles an hour.
1t is reported that traces of the filthy
cesspools can be discovered nearly as far
out as the crib where the Chicago water
supply is taken from.
Telegraph and telephone wires through
out the city and the suburbs were badly
used up, and to-day large gangs of men
have been busily employed repairing the
damages.
Ihe city hre engines were to be seen at
many points in the heart of the city pump
ing out water from easements of stores.
restaurants and other places.
During the hight of the storm last night
the propeller Boston, of the New York
Central line, grain laden, coming down to
the South Branch from the Elevator, be-
came unmanageable on account of the
swift current and swung broadside against
bridge. 1t was held in that position un-
til this evening, notwithstanding efforts to
release her. 1t took two railroad engines
on the Lake Shore, two large tugs and an
elaborate complication OF tackle to release
the big boat, and in the meantime the
river and railroad traffic in that vicinity
was completely suspended.
CHICAGO, July 2Sth.-A correct list of the
dead of last nights casualty is as follows !:
Cornelius Ferdinanchus, Rekea Ferdinan-
chus, Cora Ferdinanchus, Mea Ferdinan-
chus, Amelia Buck, Johanna Buck, Albert
Buck. The injured will all recover. The
building which fell on the smaller one was
three-story and attic Just completed.
The Coroner will hold an inquest to-
morrow, and will probably hold some one
to the Grand Jury on account of the char
ac:er of the work done on the building.
-Four unoccupied brick houses at Six
teenth and Rockwell streets, Just COM
pleted, were blown down; damage, $10,-
600. A two story brick on Washteraw
avenue was partly destroyed. The residence
of Mrs. Boardman on Michigan avenue
was deluged and damaged $4,000 1t was
caused by a chimney falling during the
storm, and crushing an immense hole in
the roof
The Rosenthal Fringe Company suffered
a loss of $4,000 by fire, caused by light
ming, at their warerooms. Adams & Co.,
dealers in wall paper. lost 81 coo in the
same fire. P. G Hanford ,'Oil company,
and the stables at Sixteenth street were ig-
nited by lightning. Eighty.seven horses
were cut loose and driven out. Loss by
fire, $1,000
During the hight of the storm a yacht
was seen burning two miles off the Gov
ernment pier. Eye witnesses assert that
she sank. Nothing has been discovered
showing her identity At first she was be-
lieved to be the yacht Countess, but tele-
gram from a party aboard her tonight
saws they arrived safely at ST. Joseph, Mich.
Ernest Blocker, lumber merchant, was
killed by locomotive while crossing the
tracks during the binding storm.
The water in the La Sale street tunnel
was five feet deep. Passengers on cable
cars were compelled TO stand on the seats.
The electric lights in all the theaters and
hotels were extinguished. Everything be-
low the street level on the West Side was
flooded
The damage all over the city is very
great. There is no way of arriving at the
full damage. The entire district beyond
Ashland avenue is a miniature sea.