Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-23


of Damage Done-The Streets
Lakes of Water, Cellers Full and
Buildings Made Unsafe.
No one who noticed the clouds gath
ering from all parts of the sky Thurs
day afternoon as if for gentle summer
shower dreamed that Abilene was to
be visited by the most severe
storm in years if not in her
history. Yet so it proved.
The clouds gathered from all points
of the horizon, seeming to meet over
the city, and about 6 o'clock the rain
commenced. At first it came quietly
pattering down but the storm in
creased in violence and in a short time
the water was pouring down in sheets.
Hail accompanied it and the stones,
three-fourths of an inch in diameter,
whitened the ground. Faster and
harder the storm poured until every
street was a river and the sidewalks
were ready to float.
The merchants closed their business
houses and went home, those who
could get there. And still it rained.
All night long and until 9 o'clock this
morning, with only slight intermis-
sions, the rain and hail beat upon the
city. The results have been most dis
astrous, causing the city an immense
loss, both to the municipality and to
individual property owners. The hail
injured the fruit severely and beat
down the grain in its path. But that
was the least of the damage.
IN NORTH ABILENE.
In the upper part of the city little
damage was done by the water. A few
cellars were flooded and sidewalks
took unto themselves floating qualities
and sailed away. Below Fifth street
and down to Third lake extended
east and west for several blocks in the
heart of the city. Sidewalks, cross
walks and rubbish were piled in con-
fusion in the middle of the streets and
nearly every cellar was full. This has
always been low part of the city and
has been only partially filled up. On
Spruce street Knapp & Bolster's livery
barn has a cellar full of water. On
Broadway the city hall basement is full
and all the store cellars from Finley's
to the Upshaw block are full, level
with the sidewalk, at least seven feet
of water being in them.
Mr.. Finley had large force pump
ing water from his cellar and was
afraid the building would settle and
fall. He loses several hundred dollars
worth of groceries, ETC., that were
stored in the basement. Shockey &
Snider had about S6, 900 worth of hard
ware in their cellar, much of which is
spoiled. Among the items were $4,000
pounds of binding Irvine.
ON THE WEST SIDE.
There was much fear this morning
that the handsome Third street bridge
would be washed away. Mud creek
rose about thirty feet and was nearly
level with the roadway. Shipe's house
was in the water nearly to the second
story. When the foot bridge at Fifth
street gave way the fire department
was called out and the Hook & Ladder
Co. fished the debris from the water.
A stable f1oated down and it was
thought that the bridge must surely go.
But it stood, and as the water is fall
ing, seems likely to be safe. The rail-
road bridges were under water for a
time.
Near the Johns carriage works vast
lake extends over a quarter section,
the floor of the carriage works being
two feet under water. A large force
of men were ordered there by Mayor
Lebold to cut a drain to the Rock
Island track to let off the water.
THE SOUTHsIDE.
The Southside being built on the
bottom lands was well flooded. Cellars
and vacant lots suffered, of course, and
there was considerable damage done.
The old city building on First street
tumbled in, and there was damage done
to the window lights of the stores.
EAST ABILENE.
Beyond Olive street toward the east
extended another broad lake and the
houses situated in that part of town
were flooded. In many of them the
lower floors were under two feet of
water and the inhabitants had to move
upstairs. Being entirely unprepared
for any such deluge, there was a large
amount of injury to carpets, furniture,
etc.
IN GENERAL.
In all parts of town window lights
were broken by the hail though there
was less of this than there would have
been had the storm been accompanied
by high wind. Photographers sky
lights were broken and their. rooms
flooded. The Abilene Club rooms were
flooded through a broken skylight and