The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-08
CHICAGO STORM SWEPT.
"a Miniature Cyclone Does Great
! Damage in the Windy City.
MANY CAUGHT OUT ON THE LAKE


A Vhiy Nhree LiveA were Lott-SlI fer-
sons Drowned at Lake Geneva, Wis.
Fatal Disasters In Other Sections.
CHICAGO. July e.-One OF the most fur
fous wind and rain storms ever known in
this vicinity for years passed over the city
about Q o'clock last evening, coming from
ths northwest The day had beon in
tensely hot, and there we're many people
out on the lake in sailboats, and as the
storm came very suddenly 1t is feared that
several lives were lost. The different life
saving crews were busy all evening trac-
ing rumors Of onpsized boats, people
clinging to planks, etc, and up TO mid
night had brought In the occupants Of
three capslzed boats, all in q very ex-
hausted condition. No trace Of any others
has been found and 1t 10 hoped that no
more are out
Up to within twenty minutes Of the dc
scent of the storm upon the city the sky
had been clear and tho sun shining
brightly. Suddenly heavy black clouds be-
gan to gather In the northwest, and few
minutes later terrific gallo Of wind, ac-
companied by perfect flood Of rain and
furious thunder and lightning, was sweep
ing over the city. Shade trees were broken
off close to the ground. awnings, signs,
stc., torn away and much minor damage
done In the city proper.
The wind moderated after about half
an hour, but the furious rain continued
for fully two hours, during which time
the streets were running with water The
parks lNid been crowded all day with peo.
pie seeking relief from the almost intoler-
able heat, and when the storm began
there was stampede for the various ele-
waited and cable lines. The surface limos
were all equipped with open cars, the can
vas curtains on which afforded but slight
protection against the furious gale, which
brought the rain in torrents in every di-
rectlon. AS q result the occupants Of every
train made q sorry looking sight before
they had travelled block, and most Of
them, after getting thorough soaking,
deserted ths cars and sought shelter Of
convenient stairways and stores along
the street on which they were travelling,
and there they had TO remain for two
hours.
Many Easements were flooded all over
the city, and in some instances fire en-
gines had to be called on to pump out
stores. Several houses In the outlying dis
tricts of the city were struck by lightning
and seriously damaged Two small resi-
denoes were completely destroyed, but no
one injured. The pecuniary loss In both
eases was small.
AT the height of the storm signal tower
beside the Pan Handle tracks, at Ada
street, was blown over, and the toworman,
August Boedlow, sustained fatal injuries.
The police and life savers think that all
khe missing boats, both rowboats and
sailboats, are accounted for, although 1t is
kI.ak O., l. Nl,o
papple in the boats which were blown out
Into the lake by the hurricane report hav-
Ing had an awful experience. So far the
only fatality actually verified is the case
Of Charles Klein, John Ross and Charles
l.. Shook, who wero out in q rowboat
when the storm burst, and Of whom no
trace has yet been found, The yawl boat
of the yacht Hattie b was picked up of
Twenty-third street, but 1t is thought the
Yaoht has weathered the gale and made
some other port.
Bob Terrell and John Fitzgerald, who
were out in a rowboat when the storm
came up, had narrow escape from drown
ing The boat capsized and the tug Sue
cess started to the rescue. A line was
thrown, which was grabbed by Fitz-
gerald, and he was pulled on board the
tug. Alec Lonto, engineer of tho tug,
seeing that Terrell was sinking, jumped
In and saved him.
Later reports coming in through the po-
lice and insurance patrols last evening
showed thnt the losses in the down town
districts alone will aggregate large sum.
fhe great department store of Rothschild
q Co., occupying nearly three-quarters OF
square and fronting on State street, suf-
lered most, nearly all the plate glass win.
dows on the State street side being blown
In, and goods in tho windows and for some
distance back badly damaged by the flood
Of rain.
Dispatches from many points In the CEN
lral and northern portions of Illinois and
southern Wisconsin tell of furious storms
yesterday afternoon and evening, though
In no place did the damage reach such O
point as in Chicago.