The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-01-29
THE GREAT STORM.

In the Northern Portion, Wind and Rain
In the Southern Part.
From the Rockies to the Atlantic, the
Canadian border down to the gulf. vio-
lent storms prevailed all of Tuesday,
the 25th.
The storm i'll southern aud central
Illinois was accompanied with brill
liant electrical display and high winds,
almost cycionic in force. Many build
ings were damaged. The rain was fol-
lowed by heavy h~ail-storm, the chunks
of ice cutting into the flesh of men and
animals.
In northern Illinois, binding snow
storm was reported, in places preceded
by rain and hail. Railways were
b locked, business suspened.
Following synopsis of dispatches sent
out from various sections of Illinois
will give some idea of the storms eff
fects:
RoCKFoRD-A blizzard which ex-
ceeded in intensity hat of last Satur-
day ragged here all day and tonight.
Rockford is buried under several feet
of snow and business is paralyzed. Not
an electric ear has turned a wheelsiuce
noon. Railroad trains are stalled in
drifts and tied up on all lines leading
out of this city. The passenger on the
Central from Chicago, due here at noon,
is off the track at Perryville, and an
other train is stuck in a drift ahead of
it. Other roads are having the same
experience, and a number of snow
plows. with big gangs of shovelers,
were sent out of Rockford tonight.
Streets and walks are banked nigh
with drifts and are impossible. Tele-
phone service is badly crippled.
BLOOMIN GTON-A storm of thunder
and lightning and rain swept over this
region just before ~daybreak. The
spectacle was a weird one. The snow
lay four inches deep ON the ground and
reflected the lightning with binding
intensity. The rain fell in torrents
on the icy snow, partially freez-
ing as it fell, until everything
glistened like Il mirror. The rain
was followed by hail. The electric
storm lasted an hour. There were light
showers throughout the day. The rain
and the high temperature loosened the
masses of snow on the roofs and win
dow lodges of the business buildings,
and there was a succession of more
or less dangerous avalan ches on the
streets.
MAsCoUTAH-A terrific wind, rain,
hail and electrical storm struck this
section of southern Illinois about three
o'clock this morning, and ragged for
several hours. After the storm the
wind changed from the southeast to
the southwest, and has blown at a
furious rate all day. The gale became
SO strong that many tin roofs and
chimney tops were lifted and blown
away, and telephone and telegraph
lines were FRUSTRATED throughout this
district.
PEORIA-A sever snow storm ragged
in the vicinity of Peoria to-day. All of
the incoming trains are late and are
pulled by double-headers. At Bureau
the snow drifted so that it was difficult
for the trains to get out. AT Galva the
Rock Island & Peoria trains were
showed in and extra engines from here
went to their aid All freight trains
have been held here. TO-day's snow
was accompanied by rain and sleet in
this district, and the river and neigh.
boring creeks are very high.
OFALLoN-A terrific wind, rain and
hail storm struck this place early this
morning. The wind blew almost a
hurricane from the west, and rain fell
in torrents, accompanied by heavy
hail. The violence of the storm, to-
gether with an alarming electrical dis
play, unusual at this season, inspired
general fear of a tornado. The wind
continued a gale from the west to-day,
and Wachter's hall, one of the princi-
pal buildings, has been unroofed.
Observation-Disclosures big snow-storm
set in this morning. and is still in
progress. The wind rose at 10 o'clock.
and since then the storm has assumed
the proportions Of a blizzard. Street
ears were abandoned early in the
day. The reports at the Burling ton
G. Quincy offices show that the storm is
general throughout this part of the
state. Snow plows were run out of the
shops and sent in every direction to
keep the track clear. The snow now
is a foot deep IN the level and Is drift
ing badly. Railroad trains are being
made up light.
ACCOMPLISHMENT 8 and 4 o'clock this
morning a double storm struck this
city. The proximity of two storms
gave an ominous outlook, but nothing
serious resulted. The rain fell in tor
rents, following which came q heavy
downpour of hail. The vivid Lightning
was altogether unusual for January.
During Tuesday the wind blew q gale,
~loosening fences, signs and small out
buildings.
MOUNT VERNoN-A terrific storm of
rain, hail and wind, accompanied by
thunder and lightning, passed over this
city at five o'clock this morning, and
for a few minutes it looked as though
the cyclone of ten years ago would be
duplicated. The storm. however,
abated, with no more serious damage
than the partial unroofng Of some
buildings, the destruction Of awnings
and uprooting of shade trees.
PRINcEToN-A heavy snow storm pre-