The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-07-31
AN ELEMENTAL WAR.
Wind, Rain and Hail Held High Carnival
this Morning-Considerable Dam
age to Crops, Trees and
Buildings.

Inc storm WllCl SCruCk SnOrLIy aLtcE
l o'clock this morning was n OF the
worst wars of the elements that has ever
visited this section. 1t started in by
wild rolling black clouds driven furious.
ly by winds from the west and north
west but before it finished the storm ap-
peared to be coming from the northeast,
and finally passing off east. The fact,
however, that the storm OF wind and
rain prevailed to nearly the same extent
at Woonsocket and Egan shows that its
course was nearly straight east through
this and adjoining counties and the So.
verify of the storm confined to a strip OF
country about four miles wide, mainly
on the north side of the Milwaukee
track. Parties from Brookings by wheel
this morning, and others from the north
ern part If this county say the frs.
signs of the storm we're visible about
four miles north of Madison. 1t extend
ed somewhat south of Madison, swaying
the crops over by the force OF the wind
but not beating them down as in the
strip north of the track. In q portion OF
this strip, in the neighborhood OF the
farms of M. E. Hart, Julius schmidt,
VIM. Walters, John Hoar and others of
Pennington aud Leroy townships, the
storm was especially severe, mixed with
hail, which has nearly totally destroyed
their crops, but east of and south OF
these the grain is only badly swayed
over and may or may not rise before
cutting.
West of the city, the barn on N. G.
Bullock's place was completely blown to
pieces as was also the Kenredy & Viii
hanson sheep rancho sheds on the YER
million. One of G. E. Kennedy's barns
east of the city was also blown down,
and 80 far as we can learn there is
scarcely a windmill left standing between
Woousocket and Egan.
In the city the storm was especially
severe. Windows were broken or blown
in in many instances and the houses de.
luged with water. Chimneys were the
especial sport of the twisting winds.
those on churches, school houses, and
kitchens of dwellings especially suffer.
ing. Many trees are broken down and
small barns numerously blown over OF
wrecked. Considerable damage in
wind mill and windows was done at the
Normal school. Jacob Koehler's home
barn was blown to smithereens, and the
new Smith-Fitzgerald block WAS badly
damaged. The third story br,ck walls
of this building were nearly completed
The wind, and it is thought lightning
too, struck it from the northwest doubl
ing in the north and west walls of The
third story and the mass Of debris car
raging itself down through the third'ano
second floors. The east front Of the
third story, mainly window frame worl
was carried to the sidewalk below. l,
will take much work clearing away be
fore these walls can be be rebuilt again
but The work of clearing away the
wreck has already begun.
Throughout all the stricken region WI
have not heard of a single casualty t.
limb or body of anyone, which is some
thing of a marvel under the circum
stances.
Nearly everybody repaired to theil
respective cellars.
.. The tall chimney OF Grace church il
among the fallen.
: 4. E. Fuller reports a car standing OF
the motor track at the fair grounds
caught by the wind and driven to th'
end of the track at the lake.
The large barns of Geo. Porter o
. Wentworth and John McGillivray o
: Herman we're moved from their founda
tions, also VIM. Walters barn.
! Geo. Mellon brought in an averag
, sample of oats this afternoon from Iii
Y farm three and q half miles southeast Q
town. His crop was not injured a par
" tlcle.
- 1t will take several years for the shad
n trees to regain the branches that wer
/ torn from them by the wind. Q. I
Kennedy's grounds suffered great
from damage to trees.
Will Costelow of Chester, reports
! high wind in that section last night an
the moving Of barns, but not muc
damage to crops, though they lost hal
OF their crop by hail the night before.
= The damage to the Smith. Ftzgeral
|. block is looked upon as almost a pei
sonal misfortune by our citizens. Th
J, progress of the building was We've
with much pride by everybody, and thi
: mishap is greatly regretted.
8 Harry Chales and family occupy til
flat in Union block adjoining the ne
= Smith. Fitzgerald block, and when til
Q walls of that structure began to fall O
the roof of their domicile they descende
9 to the street, but here they were col