The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-26
VERY SMALL SHOT
ARE ORDINARY HAILSTONES CON.
PARED WITH T0PEKA's.

| Before the Marvsloas Reality Attestsd In
That City THURSDAY Evening. the Hens
Egg Comparison Ceases to Get Any Sort
of Grip on the Imsgination-An Usage
Orange for Size was the Average HALL
stone. While Ma.y Were Simply Mon.
strous-R.ports of . Storm Wave Ex-
tending Over Four States.
Topeka, Kan, June Histories Of big
| hailstones dwindled away before the
facts offered the public yesterday. The
average size Of the stones was about
that of an Usage orange. while many
vere absolutely monstrous.
The storm came up al $50 o'clock.
People were not expecting a hail storm.
hey were looking for a tornado.
The cloud in the northwest was about
as wicked looking specimen Of wind
as was ever seen in Topeka.
When the storm struck it was a. first
difficult 70 determine the exact charac-
ter. Before the stones appeared the
swish made by their rapid progress
through the air could be distinguished.
Striking against the roofs they made a
sound not unlike the tearing up OF shin
giles in long strips.
Many people supposed the town was
visited by a cyclone. Cellars were re-
sorted 10 for temporary refuge, and tim
id persons in a number of instances re-
sorted to prayer.
A small colored boy on the edge Of
Tennesseeetown rushed out into the
street and kneeling on the edge OF the
sidewalk commenced to pray. The per-
Torrance of these devoirs nearly cos:
him severe injury, and the boy re-
treated to avoid the icy assault.
A. V. Lindell, who resides at Hun
toon and Polk, saw the cloud and sup
posed, like many others, that a cyclone
was coming. There was no cellar in the
house so he took his wife to that of a
neighbours for safety. Returning to
take second glance at the sky. he
heard the roar that preceded the fall of
ice. Surprising the storm had struck he
threw himself into gutter, face down.
The stones commenced to strike, but he
thought they were bricks, and remained
in the first position. Finally discover
ing the true nature Of the trouble, he
retired.
Local greenhouses were literally rid
died. The broad expanse of glass pre-
sented by these establishments made a
perfect mark. Without exception, the
greenhouses will each require an entire
ned outfit of roofing.
Great damage was done TO trees and
gardens in the city. and crops in the
track Of the storm must have been near
ly destroyed. It was impossible to hear
from the country districts last night.
II is impossible to estimate the dam
age in dollars and cents at this time
Nearly everybody was damaged some;
many suffered great loss.
Fortunately the stones were too hea-
Wy 10 be turned by the wind and they
fell IN nearly straight lines. Side WIN
dows in majority of instances escap-
ed damage.
On Topeka avenue a sound board in a
sidewalk was broken in two places. A
brick on a west side sidewalk was split
into two pieces. This shows the force Of
the ice balls.
Reports from the railroad telegraph Of
fees indicate that the storm was local.
Only slight rains fell at the smaller
towns within a radius of thirty miles Of
this city.
The telegraph wires of the Union Pa
ciffc were not damaged. On that line
the storm extended only as far west as
81. Marys. where a slight rain fell.
On the Rock Island rain fell as far
north as Holton and west to Mcfarland.
that company.
Rain fell along the Santa Fe lines
south OF Topeka TO Usage City.
At exactly six o'clock last evening the
thermometer in front of Swift & Holli-
days drug store stood al 80 degrees
above zero. At $50 Il stood at Is de-
grees. The barometer at that place re-
manned almost stationary.
After the storm thousands Of people
came down town 10 hear the news.
There were reports that several peo-
pie had been killed, but they were IN
true.
fell, it is wonder that somebody did
not get killed.
The most serious damage done TO any
one business institution was 70 the Hall
Lithographing company. The firms
damage will amount to $1,000.
The damage results from the injury 70
the printing presses and other machin-
cry. The rain and broken glass which
went through the roof did great dam
age 10 the machines II will be impos-
sible to operate them in their presen.
condition. and they will have to be TAX
en- down and cleaned.
The large plate glass windows on the
west side Of the buildings were shatter-
ed. The roof Of the buildings is COM
posed of skylights. These were broken
CROSBY Brothers suffered a heavy loss.
In the center OF their dry goods store is
4 large court extending the entire length
OF the building, and covered by sky
lights.
The hail created CONSERVATION among
the horses attached 10 the vehicles a.
the anita Fe depot for the arrival OF the
plug.
Eight different teams ran away and
two persons were hurt
w y. Hall. proprietor o. the Hall
Ll;hosraphing company. was in his bug
sy with his wife and little girl The
horse ran away and NJ. Hall had his
back injured.
Frank Rrainard. a hack driver, was
also hur: and was unconscious Tor a
sine. Brainard's horses ran away and
in attempting 10 stop them he was
thrown down. He was taken into the
depo; and afterwards taken 10 his home
on north Topeka.