The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-12

this evening to form the severest storm
this city has had for years. IL began about
S:15 p. NJ, and lasted nearly half an hour.
nous % Clouds. I constantiy CON % illuminated by
brilliant flashes of lightning. prevailed
some time previous to the outbreak OF the
storm proper, many were apprec ensive OF
Cyclone. Rain fell gently for few min.
utes. then suddenly violent downpour or
rain and hail began. and the electric feat
ures of the storm made themselves fear
fully evident. The streets at once became
Hooded. the sewers being inadequate TO
water. Easements In all parts of the city
were flooded. At the telegraph offices
the noise of the hail against windows and
on roofs drowDsd out the noise OF the
utes suspended. No serious accidents are
reported. The hallstones were not large
enough TO break glass 10 any material ex-
tent. Police and fire. alarm wires were not
effected, aud telephones only slightly in
terfered with. Electrlc-car traffic tor the
time W as suspended. IL being necessary to
shut Off all power from the trolley wires,
and only about half the usual number of
cars are now rnnning. The worst effect OF
the storm is now apparent in the telegraph
service. The Western Union has had no
wires TO the West and South since 9 p. NJ.
and there is no prospect of securing any at
this hour-11 p. NJ. The weather is clear
ing mp and growing much cooler.
LAIER-ADOUb IL ClOCk 3nOtDoE 6tOIu
came up. this time from the north west.
The rain was not so violent as earlier
In the evening. and there was no hail. but
the electric disturbances and the wind were
decidedly lively. The steamer ID. II. Pike,
lying at It's wharf at the foot of Locust
street. with no steam mp and five men on
board, was blown adrift and, as no
trace can be had of it. it is feared
she has sunk with all on board. The bar-
Dor boat City of ST. Louis. with a small
crew aboard. was also blown from the
same wharf, and has not been heard from
at las A. NJ. Two wharfboats anchored
near by met with similar fate,
but i: is believed there were no persons on
these boats. although searchers are out
everywhere. 1t 10 feared that they have
been sunk. The financial loss, should this
be the case. will reach $4,000.
TO-night's storm also created great havoc
throughcut the city. although at no one
place was the damage great. Trees and
houses were blown down. and several run
aways wererepOrted. Several persons have
been slightly injured but nor mono seriously
store called the "Grand Leader" being
erected on North Broadway, por-
tion of the uncompleted structure
W was ss slSwn S down. smsIi Sau'Rs Rs,ons i0ss
No. us Pine street was blown
out into the street, smashing it to pieces
and breaking the trolley wires of tho Union
Depot d Mound City electric railway.
Electric cars all over the city have been
stopped.
From East st. Louis come reports
of havoc wrought By the storm. No
serious injuries are reported. The West
ern Union has abandoned all Southwestern
wires and the Associated Press has had but
one wire TO Kansas City since IL O'Clock.
This wire 10 the only one working out or
this office to any point on this side of the
Mississippi. and the transmission of news
on it Is very slow.
Father and Two Children Killed.
Special 70 the Indianapolis Journal.
PAGE CITY, No.. April ia terrible tor
nado struck rhis town this evening. tearing
and twisting the houses to pieces and Gre
ating widespread ruin. William Walker
and his two children were caught in the
wreck OF their home and were all Instantly
killed. Three.fourths of the houses in the
town are destroyed. and manv are dam
aged. Reports from the neigh boring towns