Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-16
A NIGHT OF TERROR,
Elements Cut Curious Capers
in Rock Island and
Vicinity.
RAIN COMES DOWN IN TORRENTS


Washed Out-Residence of y. F. Peter
son Struck by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BILE
Rise of the River-GeneraI Result of the
Storm.
Rock Island was in the throes of q
heavy rain and thunderstorm last
night. The electrical disturbance
was terrific and only sound sleepers
had nerve enough to close an eye.
The oldest inhabitant cannot remem-
Der when we were treated to such q
severe and continuous bonn bardment.
The precipitation, according to the
register in Observer Schrier's weather
signal station across the river, was
2:l5. This is considered an excep-
tionally large amount to be delivered
in a single night. The storms ap-
proach was apparent as early as Z
o o'clock, when an occasional flash of
lightning would illuminate the heav-
ems and display embankments of wet
looking clouds rolling in this direc-
ton. Then it sprinkled. ceasing at
intervals, until about II, when the
real article was ushered in. The rain
came down in torrents. and before
were submerged, particularly those
Cellars were filled. People who re-
mained down town waiting for the
establishment of peace on the part of
the elements kicked themselves be-
cause they did not make their home
ward exit earlier, for they were
obliged to submit to the unpleasant
experience of wading through water
above their ankles, to say nothing Of
the soaking they were subjected to
from above, for umbrellas were vir-
tually useless. AS a result there are
numerous colds in the head today.
The rain continued necessarily until
about $50 a. m. although at intervals
it eased up considerably.
The railroads Jared the worst The
Rock Island and Burlington had wash
outs near East Moline, about one hun
bred feet of the former companv's
track being moved from its bearings.
and as a result of which no train
passed that point from midnight I'M
til about 10 o'clock this morning.
Passenger train No. 4, from the west,
At 12:05, ventured east to the scene of
the washout, and was forced to re-
turn to Rock Island until the damage
was repaired. Nos. 6, II. 20 and 3,
eastbound, profitted by No. As ex-
perience and laid in the lower Yards
and awaited the signal to move on.
Nos. 3, s and 81, the latter the fast
mail, were lined up east of the wash
out.
The Burlington's st. Louis passen-
ger, due At 600 II. m, reached here
at II 80, and all other trains were de-
layed accordingly
The Milwaukee's morning passen-
ger was half hour late in getting out
on account of the blockading of the
Rock Island yards.
The tracks of the Tri-City Railway
company were covered with mud
washed from the hills near Augustana
college and occasioned some delay in
starting the Fourth avenue cars this
morning.
Sixty feet of h. l. Il p. track was
swept away at Gable. The damage
was not repaired until / o'clock this
afternoon.
The Mississippi rose 1.5-from IS
to S.20-from II o'clock last night. q
swell when one considers
the expanse which it covers, and
further proving that we were treated
to real deluge.
Damage of the Lightning.
A residence in Davenport was dam
aged $50 by lightning.
The electrical apparatus at TIE
Davenport city hall was damaged s..
The telephone and telegraph wires
were knocked out in different places
IL ..:...- .L.,.....--I.L l.