The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-14
Great Damage Done by a Terrible
Tornado.
MANY VALUABLE BUILDINGS WRECKED.
The Democratic Convention Hall Reported Badly In.
jured-A Lake Steamer Missing With Nearly
Hundred College Students Aboard.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

CHICAGO, June 13.-This city was visited
this afternoon by one of the most severe
storms in years. 1t lasted only short
time, but two persons are known to have
been killed. Many others besides were
painfully injured and much damage was
done to property. The wigwam on the Lake
front, In which the Democratic national
convention is to be held, was badly wrecked
About o'clock this afternoon heavy clouds
began to gather, and few minutes later a
tornado swept across the city from the north
west, accompanied by terrific thunder and
lightning and torrents of rain and hail
On the west side trees were broken down,
awnings torn off and windows shattered.
A brick cottage, 1886 Whipple street. was
demolished, and two-year old, Emma
Klima, was instantly killed. and her mother
and another child badly injured. Between
Twenty-secOnd and Thirty-third streets,
east of the river, considerable minor dam
age was done. The telegraph, telephone
and electric systems were demoralized. The
large chimneys of number of manufacture
ing establishments were wrecked, and some
houses struck by lightning and badly dam
aged. Portions of the roofs Of several
buildings on State street were blown off.
A small circus was showing at Twenty
eighth street and Wentworth avenue. many
small children being present When the
gale struck the tent the children became
panic-striCken and great confusion eBsued.
They were gotten out safely, however, and
shortly after the tent was blown to the
ground. A number Of the performers made
their escape without waiting to change their
uniform.
Catholic church at Twenty-fifth and
Wallais streets was badly damaged, and
pasSer-by was seriously injured. An ele-
yator near Butler street was struck by
lightning and the grain was badly damaged
by the rain.
The storm seemed the most severe in the
vicinity OF the Board of Trade. The Home
Insurance building, on Lasalle street. was
struck by lightning and three plate-glass
windows in the Union National Bank were
blown in. J. J. p. O'Dell, president of the
bank, was struck on the thigh by
large piece Of glass and severely hurt. The
other occupants Of the bank escaped with
slight bruises. The driving rain deluged
the bank and did considerable damage. One
large window In the Armour Company's
Office was blown in, but no one was Injured.
On the upper floors of the building a num-
ber of windows were broken.
Several large stores in the business dis
trict had their plate glass windows blown
in and suffered some damage from the rain.
During tile progress Of the storm the grip
men on the cable lines experienced consd-
cradle difficulty in handling the trains, be-
cause of the electrical current on the
cables. Three employees In one yard were
badly Injured. An idea of the force of the
wind may be CLEANED from the fact that a
six-inch timber was driven endWise through
q b0Xear.
Two persons are known to be killed, FIVE
or six fatally injured the latter working
mem and many were painfully hurt. 1t is
also feared that three men who were seen
on the lake in rowboat efoTe the storm
are lost