The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-05-24
A Great Storm.
What was undoubtedly a portion

Great Storm.
What was undoubtedly portion Of a
cyclone, visited Ottawa at I o'clock
last evening. 1t appears from one &C
count that cyclone, or what APP
peared to be cyclone, came up from
the southwest at a few minutes be-
fore 7 o'clock and striking Buffalo
Rock split, the bulk of it passing to
the north and portion heading for
this city. Another account refutes
the actual cyclone idea, but agrees
with the first in the fact that Buffalo
Rock split the storm.
But whether or not the storm OF
last evening was the tail end Of a
cyclone or portion Of one, it was
great storm and equal to the most
severe that has ever visited this
section of the country. Its diameter
was not great, probably mile 1t
struck the city like thunderbOlt and
tOle its way through the trees and
houSetOpS at a rate Of sixty to seventy
miles an hour. 1t howled over the
broad prairie west of town and with
undated fury swept from one limits
to the other, not square foot escap
ing:
The cloud behind it emitted in
cessant crashings of lighting, the
earth shook with the shock OF
thunders and the terrific wind blew
the binding sheets Of rain into every
1crack and crevice in dwellings and
business houses. Never before had sc
great quantity of rain fallen in a
half hour. The streets were flooded
in less than ten minutes and those
caught in its path were soaked to the
skin before they could reach the
nearest shelter.
The first intimation the police au'
thOrities had that the storm was at
hand, was when lightning struck the
chimney and when the wind blew the
roof off the police headquarters, council
room and fire department club room,
in the engine house. The sheets of
water went through the unprotected
ceilings like water through sieve and
in short time there was nearly foot
of water in each Of the rooms. Ere
this, however, the police had sought
safety in the engine room, where they
lent hand in assisting the boys to
brace the back door, while the water
| olCN ouSi Nl'NlNNS III BNi iNN I
spray. The damage to the house is
about $500, and to the property OF the
city and Undine Hose Company about
$50 more.
The telephone company is the heav-
lest private loser. Nearly all or It's
wires were blown down or crossed with
other wires and all connection with
outside towns is cut Off for the present.
Near the corner Of Main and Clay
streets, large tree, belonging to Mr..
Nicholson, was blown down, and fell
across the telephone wires, breaking
them and throwing them over the cleo
trio railway main cable. This ground
ed the current and threw the safety
pins out of the apparatus at the power
house, stopping the cars at different
points upon the road. one Of the out
side arc lights also blew down, shut
ting off one of the circuits. After the
storm the railway was soon moving,
having suffered no damage.
OF course, all Of the electric lights
were put out at the beginning Of the
storm. At So'clock Mayor Sherwood
ordered the gas lighted throughout
the city. The cross upon the Spirc OF
! ~. NoluuIDd tllul'll was UNIV liilo WV
High school yard. John Hasberlin's
big sign came down with a rush. All
of the Easements about town were
more or less flooded, McCabe x
Fishers receiving foot Of water
through Stoppage in their sewer
pipe. Superior street was lake, as
was also a portion of Chestnut street
| BY far the greatest general damage
was that done ornamental trees.
Nearly every citizen had one or more
trees ruined or badly damaged. The
damage was most severe on the west
and south sides. and in all amounts tC
something like $1,000. Some of the
finest trees in the city, valued at from
5000 to $500 each, were destroyed. The
trees in public parks escaped with but
slight damage. 1t is also reported
that the Illinois Central bridge at La
Sale was moved out of plumb. Com
municatiOn was, however, cut Off.
Nearly every store on the east side
Of La Sale street and on the south
side Of Main was flooded back ten feet
from the door, the wind carrying
water under the doors in fine spray.
1t was a great storm. Let some other
city have the next, Ottawa doesn't
want it.