The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
FATAL STORM AT CHICAGO
Eight People Crushed 10 Death in the
Ruins of a House Blown Over.
Three Others Seriously Injured-NarrOw Es-
cape of Street Car Full of Passengers
Damage Caused by the Heavy Rainfall.


rain-falls ever known in this section of
the country did thousands Of dollars dam
age in this city tonight. The storm-cloud
came from the southwest and meeting
counter currents of air lowered over the
city for two and one-half hours finally pass
ing to the northeast The rain
began about $50 o'clock and continued in
binding sheets until p. NJ. The violence
of the wind at times almost reached the
fury of a tornado. In two hours and fif-
teen minutes there was rainfall of 4.12 in
cEes.
During the storm unoccupied three
story brick building at the corner of Oak
ley avenue and Twenty-frst street, was
blown over onto an adjoining cottage, CON-
pletely the latter, instantly killing
eight and seriously injuring three of its
occupants. Two families lived in the cot
tage, the front part being occupied by
Cornelius Ferdinands, blacksmith, with
his wife and four children, and the rear by
Charles Buck, laborer, his wife and three
children. The wrecked cottage caught fire
from the overturned stoves in it, but the
flames were soon extinguished and the
work of rescue began.
Charles Buck, who lived in the rear, was
found pinned down by heavy timbers. He
was terribly injured about the head, face
and chest, but may recover. His wife was
found dead. crushed beyond all recognition.
Gustaf his oldest son, aged thi1een, was
fastened under heavy beam. His right
leg was broken and his skull fractured. He
was taken to the hospital, but cannot sur
vive his injuries. Anna Buck, aged eight
and Albert. aged six, were crushed to death.
Cornelius Ferdinands was found crushed to
near him. with their two-year-old babe
Cora, clasped in her arms. The mother was
dead, but the child was rescued alive and
taken to the, county. hospital, where
it died at midnight. Linda Ferdinands,
| and screaming. She had attempted to es-
| cape through a rear door, and was crushed
| about the chest and both legs. Shemay re-
cover: Geneva Ferdinands. aged thirteen,
to midnight, although means and faint
cries for her help were audible from the
ruins.
A big tree blew across Van Buren-street
| car, near Sangamon street, and nearly de-
| molished it. The car was crowded with
passengers, but no one was seriously in
| jured. The wreck was not removed and
| the track cleared for two hours.
When the engineer of the Grand Pacific
Hotel left his boiler he WAS s in p water lit,
| suffered similarly. the water invading the
| boiler and baggage-room. At the Leland it
reached the boilers and stopped the dyna-
mos.
Easements and cellars were flooded all
over the city, some to depth of three or
| four feet. The water rushed down the in
cline into the La Salle-street tunnel, until
it reached depth of over three feet in the
| center. completely interrupting for a time
| disturbance was not great. and very little
| harm is reported from lightning. The
| damage caused to- warehouse goods from
| Hooded Easements, as already reported, will
| run high into the thousands.
Struck by Lightning-Damaged by Hall.
| Special to the Indianapolis Journal
| CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Ind, July 27.-During the
| great hallstorm yesterday afternoon Miss Maud
| Evans, of WhitlOck. this county, was struck by
| lightning and seriously if not fatally injured.
At Elmdale the house of James Marion was
struck but the damage was slight
/ county from northwest to southeast, over path
| about a mile wide, and in that path not corn
losses reaching as high as twenty-seyen acres Of
| growing corn. Some of the hailstones that fell
IN this city We're nearly AS large as hens egg:
thiokly crusted upon the ground.
Circus Wrecked in the West Virginia Flood.
PARKERsBURG, W. Va, July 27.-Further par
| ticulars of the disastrous floods in Writ county
have been received The brother of Thomas
| Hughes, whose wife and children were drowned
| on Sunday, has arrived from Pittsburg to assist
in the care of his brother, who Is dying from in
| juries received. Thomas Black, who lived close
| TO the Hughes family, and who was drowned
| with his wife, had but recently been married. A
ufrayo of Ttraly vhnra I'M
| cOud-burst struck that section. The flood
| struck the show just after the performance be-
| carrying off horses, wagons and tents. Miss De
Alma, who performed on the trapeze, was
| drowned IT Is reported that some OF the en-
ployes also lost their lives, but the whole section
Of country where the misfortune occurred is still
| in such state Of confusion that 1t is impossible
| to get full particulars. Salisbury on the Big
| Tygart river is virtually Wiped of existence.