Huntsville gazette., 1894-02-17
BY WIND AND WAVE.
Awful Destruction Wrought by the
Elements.
Vind-Storm of Cyclonic Intensity In
kenfucky-Terrible Cyclone i'm Mis-
-issippi = The Disturbances
Widespread and General.
The Worst for Twenty-Thrse Years.

The Worst for Twsnty-Three Years.
CHICAGO. Feb. 13.-The worst biz
card which ever struck this city SO far
as the weather bureau records show
for tssenty-three years is raging here.
Street traffic is greatly impeded and
walkisg is accomplis he'd with great
danger to life and limb. Many per-
sons hssve already been injured by be-
ing blown TO the ground. against walls
and street posts by the wind. The
velocity is so miles an hour, the high
est ever recorded fo. this city, and al
most double the velocity of the wind
which is blowing blizzard in the
western states. The following state
ment was made by the chief of The
weather bureau to the United Press
correspondent this morning:
This storm started on the south
coast of California Saturday morning,
and Sunday it struck Texas. This
morning it was central in the Ohio
valley. There is over Lake Superior
an area of very high pressure, and its
proximity to the storm center of the
Ohio valley has caused the abnormally
high wind in this vicinity. The storm
has stopped in the southwest and will
stop in this neighborhood to-nighe,
followed by fair weather with cold
wave tomorrow. The wind is now so
miles an hour, blowing from the north
east. 1t will shift to the northwest by
tomorrow morning and moderate
greatly. The storm is now moving
eastward This is the highest steady
wind since the bureau was es-
tablished, twcnty-eight years ago.
The thermometer is 23 degrees above
zero, but it will so down to zero when
the wind abates.
The wind was SO furious at the cor
ners where sky-scrapers are built, es-
pecially the Monadnock and Annex
block, bounded by Jackson, Van Buren,
and Dearborn streets and Custom
House place, that extra policemen gave
al! their attention to the pedestrians.
Dozens sf women were lifted from their
feet and blown to the ground, or else
pushed across the streets until they
came in violent contact with walls and
other distractions.
Mrs Brahaney, of 361 South Clinton
street, a char at the Art insti :
tute, was lifted in the air and dashed
against the fire-plug at the Dearborn
and Van Buren, street corner. Two of
her ribs were broken, and it is sup
posed she is internally injured She
lay in the snow drift until men ran to
her rescue and the police ambulance
took her home. The gusts Of wind and
binding particles Of snow frightened
men as well as women from attempt
ing TO cross Dearborn street at Van
Buren,. The fate of others kept them
within sheltering doorways. Civilians
and policemen became volunteer
brigade. and on the principle that in
union is strength they locked arms
with the belated Office workers and
crossed in safety
The ca BILE and horse ear lines are
badly crippled by the snow storm.
-Four horses are being used on the
horse cars on nearly all lines, and even
then after fair load had been taken
on, the drivers are afraid to come to
complete stop lest they should be un-
able to start again. The mails also
ly all the trains arriving in the city
being FROM one to three hours late.
Thrilling Adventure of Two Hundred
Sight-Ssers Afioat on Bridge.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 13.-A storm
of great intensity was central over
Arkansas Sunday night, and rain fell
in torrents at Little Rock and vicinity,
and for some time the wind blew with
tremendous force, tearing down signs
and driving all pedestrians indoors.
In eight hours 70 Of an inch of rain
had fallen.
At Z o'clock yesterday morning the
thermometer stood 26 degrees above
zero, fall of "a degrees since o'clock
Sunday afternoon.
The Arkansas river at little Rock
began falling Sunday morning, but the
decline soon stopped and the water be-
gan to rise again.
The steamer Reese Pritchard ar
rived yesterday. Capt. Drake brought
full particulars of the accident to the
Dardanelle bridge. An attempt was
made to swing in the bridge to prevent
it from being washed away by the ris-
ing water. Nearly 200 men. women
and children got on the bridge to see
the sights Instead OF enjoying them
selves they had a terrible cx
perience. Just as the bridge
was being swung around the ca
bic broke and the bridge was swept
down the river with its human load.
One quarter of mile from where the
bridge had broken away, the steamer
Reese Pritchard was plying down the
river Capt. Drake saw the floating
bridge coming and commanded that
the boat be headed up the river and
ali hands attempt to stop it. This was
done by great efforts The bridge was
towed to shore and afterwards pulled
up high and dry.
The Mississippi river continues =
rise at very rapid rate and disas-
troUs food is expected.
A Wind-Storm of Cyclonic Intensity in
Kentucky
LOUISVILLE. KY. Feb. IA wind
e.nprn of cyclauip irtensttv and foFca