The Philipsburg mail., 1899-08-11
Telegraph Wires Burned Out and
Easements Flooded.
IT RESEMBLED A ClOUDBURS7
Mondays Rain the Heaviest Known Here
in Ten Years-Streets Were Cow
cred With Water Entirely
Local storm

Notwithstanding the weather forecast
for Montana was generally fair for Mon
day and Tuesday, with thunder storms
to the northwest, this section was visi ed
by the heaviest rain that has been expe-
rienced here in years. Last Monday at
noon, between 1890 and O'Clock, prob
ably the severest storm Of the season
visited this city, and SO heavy was the
rainfall that the water covered the
streets in several places from sidewalk to
sidewalk. and the capacity of the sewers
was insufficient to carry it off.
It was one of the transforms that the
old timers in the city speak of, which
occurred periodical y during the early
history OF Phllipsburg, when Camp
waters and Broadway was the principle
residents in the city endeavor to make
their neighbors who arrived at later
period believe that the early records of
head of Camp creek were not equalled
d
that it was the heaviest rainstorm seen
in this vicinity in ten years. Many Gel
lars and Easements we're flooded aud
some damage was done in the streets
which kept the street commissioner
busy, making repairs and cleaning out
sewers for some days.
The clouds gathered in the south and
northwest IN the forenoon, and for sew
eral hours it appeared as if i, would rain
before evening, but 1t was not at all
threatening and no one expected the
food rain that occurred shortly after the
noon hour. The clouds evidently met
and hung over the city until relieved of
the weight which prevented them from
passing over the mountains. The water
came down in sheets ON Hope hill closely
resembling a cloudburst, and all over
the city it simply poured, accompanied
by soft hail. 1t looked as If the food
gates of heaven had been opened Prob
ably the heaviest rainfall occurred on
the south side, and Parker's addition was
partially inundated Broadway re-
sem bled a verltable river with good sized
tributaries coming in from every cross
street. Everybody was busy, especially
on the south side of Broadway, remov-
ing debris from the gutter and making
a clear course for the torrents, to pre-
vent the water entering the business
houses
The yard back of John Boyd's resi-
dence, at the corner Of Ora lite aud
California streets, was flooded by abont
four feet OF water and the door Of his
basement was pushed in.
The residence Of Joseph SOrenson, on
lower Broadway was entirely surrounded
by water and the cellar flooded.
A 81 ght washout occurred on the rail
road embankment short defiance be-
low the depot, but it was not sufficient
to interfere with the train service
The storm was entirely local and a
short distance south of Parker'e addi
tion it did not rain drop, as the dusty
condition of the road would indicate.
There was no rain at DrummOnd or
New Chicago at that time and the clouds
apparently discharged all of their sur
plus right over the city. Scarcely any
lightning or thunder accompanied the
storm. 1t came up very suddenly and
lasted less than thirty minutes.
On Tuesday it rained more or less all
day, much to the displeasure Of the hay
makers. The haying season was inter-
rupted throughout the upper Flint creek
valley for the greater part of the week.
During the afternoon bolt of lig t.
ming struck the wires of the Western
Union Telegraph Company and played
havoc with the switchboard in the post
office. Manager w. NJ. Loring of the
telegraph company was at his desk at
the time and the report, which resembled
the discharge of gun in front of his
face, somewhat startled him. 1t was a
very close call and almost too much SO
for. comfort The instrument was not
DANA ed, as the lightning made short
circuit on the switchboard ard passed
out Of the building.
The electric storm was accompanied
by heavy rain.
Lost-Ladies' opal lace pin. Liberal
reward for the return to this Office