Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-06-04
THE LATE BIG STORM.


Last Sunday was Il beautiful day.
The heat was quite oppressive, how
ever, and there were signs pointing
toward an impending storm. II was
F., Memorial Sabbath, too, and doubtless
il will prove memorable one in the
minds of u large majority OF the citi-
zens Of this city and vicinity. To-
wards evening all unprctenlious cloud
was noticed in the western sky which
rapidly increased in sizc until nearly
dark when IL was evident that heavy
storm would soon burst upon us. And
SO It did. Although there was moi
Il serious wind the rain fell in torrents
accompanied by hail and severe cleo
lrical disturbances for over three
hours. Strange as it MAY seem hail
fell almost continuously during this
time, hut not so thicHly as to 10 great
damage. Some Of il was very large,
too. One was picked up which meas
aired two and half inches long, all
inch aud a half wide and llIree tourths
of an inch thick of sulii ice, while
there were many as large as walnuts.
The litllo creek running through
Baxter from southwest 10 northeast,
known as Spring run, rose very rap
idly until IL went out of liz banks and
did great damage. The small build
ing at the crossing on Sheridan ave-
nue. was carried away, also tho foot
bridge there, but the wagon bridge at
that point WAS the only one which
stood the test. Tie bridge near the
school house, the bridge near ScOtt's
barn and the bridge Oh north Military
street were all swept away by the
rushing water. For Il while the water
flowed over the stone sidewalk and
into Springs park entirely submerging
the medical springs, while all along
up and down the creek parties could
be seen with lanterns yelling and of
fering assistance to those in need of it.
No one was seriously injured person.
ally, we believe. by the overflow, but
/ there was one miraculous escape from
death which is worthy of mention.
Leroy Harvey, his father and Frank
Ilemstreet were ont looking at the
flood east of tn f, park when they heard
moan and on going closer saw the
head of cow sticking up through a
large pile of drift wood. Leroy went
in and found that thc animal had
eleven strands of barb wire and a
rope wound around her neck. A pair
of wire cutters were secured aud the
wire removed, and after hard strug-
gle the cow was safely landed some
hundred feet below where found. 1t
was learned afterwavd that this I'M
fortunate animal had got into the cur
rent away up in the southwest part of
town near the railroad and tloated
down until she became entangled in
the drift. Several gardens were SUBJ
merged and the amount OF damage
done can hardly be estimated.
The river rose so rapidly that the
20 wcr was exhausted and the electric
lights shut off before 8 o'clocN. Hun
tireds Of people were out during The
night and carly the next morning
viewing the results of the most dis
astrOus rain storm seen here in 10
these many years. Few roofs in the
city could successfully withstand the
volumes of water thrown upon them
and much damage resulted from leak.
ages. The small bridge on the road
between Bob Mc(iregor's home aud
the city was swept away and I've was
compelled TO erect temporary one
before he could get out with a team.
The small streams In every direction
went out of their banks and the dam
aye TO growing crops cannot well he
estimated. Notwithstanding all this
ii has been raining good portion Of
the time since and there seems TO he
no telling where II is to stop.
The Memphis route suffered severe
ly by this storm, having three snail
bridges between this city aud Galenn
and portion Of its track washed out.
Trains were run over the Frisco from
Joplin to Columbus and then down
this way for two or three days until
the damages could be repaired.
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