Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-08-13
HOSTS SUFFERING.
A Severe Cyclonic Windstorm
Visits Iowa
INTENSE HEAT IN NEW YORK CITY.
A Number of Sunstrokes Reported in Sew
eraI PIaces-Wheat In the North
ShriveIed UP-A Terrible
Drought.

OrTUMwA, Ia, Aug. ia heavy
wind of cyclonic proportions yesterday
afternoon was the end of the terrific
heat of the past two days and Humes-
ton, Corydon, Centerville, Ottumwa,
Agency and other towns lay in the path,
with more or less damage to each At
Humeston cars were blown from the
track of the Keokuk & Western road,
the round house was demolished, houses
were unroofed and small outbuildings
destroyed. Trees were uprooted and
oats and wheat stacks were scattered
in every direction Fields of
grain and corn were prostrated,
creating great loss. At Corydon the
large court house was unroofed and the
county offices damaged The Method
ist church was demolished and the de-
pot blown down, while crops and small
buildings shared the same fate as at
other points. At Ottumwa the clouds
were so threatening that many people
sought safety in cellars, and it was
feared the coal palace would be de-
stroyed. The gale swept the roof off
three stores and the Q round house,
while smaller buildings suffered like
wise. The coal palace tower was twist
ed, the windows blown in and the scat
folding thrown across the telegraph
and telephone wires. Large trees were
twisted or uprooted like corn stalks
and at Franklinport they were blown
down profusely. No persons are re-
ported killed.
A terrific wind, accompanied by rain
and hail, passed over Decatur county
about noon yesterday. 1t was the
worst storm ever known in that part
of the state, and the damage is great
Crops over a wide tract of territory are
destroyed. Trees were prostrated and
buildings destroyed So far as known
no lives were lost
AS IN A FURNACE.
New YORK, Aug. 11.-New York yes
terday was a furnace seven times
heated. This has been the third day of
the heated term in this city and the
hottest of the three, with no prospects
of change. According to the proba-
Dilities as furnished by the local fore
cast office the mercury bids fair to
touch the 100 mark to-day.
By a thermometer which registers
the actual degree of heat on the street
81 degrees was reached at 2:3O. At 9:3O
a m, without a suspicion of a breeze
and the mercury steadily climbing up
wards, the air was sitting At noon it
was unbearable and between that hour
and in the afternoon the ambulances
were busily engaged in carrying to the
hospitals many human beings pros
trated by the heat
Nothing like it has been recorded at
this time in the year for nearly twenty
years, and a continuance during the
week means an enormous increase of
mortality, especially in the crowded
tenement districts. Several deaths
have occurred and many more victims
are in precaTious condition.
The deaths so far reported are; joan
ma Zitt, Is years old, at her home, No.
S1S East Seventy-third street; Mrs. Mary
Minnaugh, so years, at No. 334 East
Sixty-second street; James O'Flagherty,
3 months, No. AL West Twenty-sixth
street; John Gleason, o34, of 5S4 West
Thirty-ifth street; II. jeremiah Finne-
gan, % years, No. 41S Washington
street,
WHEAT sHRIvELED.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Aug. 11.-Last
nights weather and crop reports from
North Dakota indicate that at least
twelve counties of that state have been
very seriously injured. The wheat
along the Manitoba border was just in
the milk, two weeks from harvest, and
the intense heat is said to have
blistered and shriveled it to such
an extent as to ruin a large part
of it and render the remainder off
grade. The country west of Bismarck
is said not to have suffered, as also that
along the Red river in Minnesota and
Dakota A slight shrinkage from blight
and rust is expected in Polk, Otter Tail
and Wilkins counties in Minnesota
A TERRIBLE DROUGHT.
PLAINFIELD, Conn, Aug. u.-Yester-
day was one of the hottest in years,
and the drought is something startling.
All the late crops are burning up in the
ground and early ones have ripened by
the drought so quickly that they are
badly dwarfed. The river, ponds and
other mill streams are lower than for
years. Ashland, Jewett City, Clays-
vile, Flaville, Central Valley and other
places have been compelled to stop
their mills for want of water All
through the valley of the Yantic,
Quinnebugh and Shetuclet rivers mills
are idle. Pachaug lake that covers
$4,000 acres is dry, and unless rain
comes soon the loss to crops and in
wages will be great.
THE HEAT AT ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. lit was ex-
cessively warm yesterday, but the heat
was somewhat mitigated by an occa-
sional cool breeze. The mercury
reached the highest point of the season,
marking 9s degrees in the shade at o.
m. A number of prostratfons were
caused, a majority of which were
invited by the internal use of whisky,
but no fatalities. Last night at 10
o'clock the Thermometer showed it was
still rather warm, indicating 90 degrees.