The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-09-07
IN THE STORMS PATH
Kenosha Visited by Terrible Storm
Shortly After Seven O'clock last
Evening.
BOLTS STRUCK MANY PLACES

Been Destroyed-storm Til ught to have
Been Very Severe in the Country Dis
tricts-schlitz Hotel Struck by Light
ming, but None are Injured.
One of the worst storms which ever
struck this county passed over the city
and county shortly after z o'clock last
evening. For hours before the storm
broke the clouds were gathering and
from all reports that have been receiv-
ed this morning the city was directly
in the center of the path of the storm.
For over an hour rain fell in torrents
and the terrible downpour was accom-
panied by vivid flashes of lightning
and resounding pea1s of thunder. A
| high wind from the northeast prevail
ed during the storm and this seems to
have, spent much of its force along the
streets of the city. Several reports
have been received as to the work of
the lightning, but as yet no fatalities
have been reported.
Large trees were blown dawn in all
parts of the city. The telephone and
electric light wires were completely
wrecked in many places and shortly
alters o'clock the entire western cir
cult of the electric light plant was cut
off by wandering bolt.
Main street, after the storm, was
strewn with debris of broken trees and
other things carried along by the
storm in it's fury. The awning in
front of the Kupfer Cracker COM
pany's store was caught by the wind
and torn into shreds. Signs were
overturned and broken down and the
damage to the merchants will be con-
siderable.
About O'Clock lightning struck the
chimney of the Sch1itz hotel and while
no great damage was done the fire de-
partment was called out at once. The
house was filled with birthstone and at
the time of the shock veritab1e panic
w S caused among the guests. Some
of them were badly frightened and
rushed from the hotel and sought
shelter in the surrounding houses.
Before the fire department arrived it
was discovered that the damage to the
building had been very small and no
blaze resulted. Several bolts of the
lightning struck in the neighborhood
of the Enge1 brick yard, and horse
belonging to the company was instant
: 1y killed.
: Lightning struck the residence OF
George Harkin, on Eagle street, and
Mr.. and Mrs. JohnEEtges, who reside
on the second floor of the house had a
very narrow; escape. The lightning
made a sma11Iho1e in the roof of the
house and passed through the table al
which Mr.. and MRS. Etges were sit,
Z ting. Neither of them were injured
t but both were badly frightened.
. Hotel Kenosha suffered a similar
fate, and one Of the rooms of the hotel
was flooded with water which entered
through a sma115 hole made by the
lightning.
Three Had a Miraculous Escape.
The most serious accident from the
storm as yet reported, occurred at the
residence of James Becker; on Strong
street. The lightning which struck
the house shortly after O'Clock, al
most completely demolished the struc-
|
tiers and the floors were covered by the
debris of falling plaster and broken
glass. Three people were in the house
at the time and had a miraculous es-
cape from instant death. Mrs. Nc
Carly was standing near stove in the
dining room and she was stunned by
the force of the electric discharge.
Becker, the owner of the house, also
felt the shock distinctly. Mrs. Nc
Carly is still in a serious condition.
The loss from obstruction of the
house will probably amount to $500,
partially covered by insurance.
| A boy named Barnes, living near the
Becker house, was also stunned by the
electric shock, but escaped without
serious injury.
At the Railway station the storm
was exceedingly severe. A freight
train was passing through the city at
the time and the wind caught one Of
the freight cars and completely un-
rooted It. The timbers of the car were
scattered all about the station plat
form, and several of the trainmen had
narrow escapes from being struck by
the flying pieces of the car.
Fred Parker had a narrow escape
from being injured by driving over a
live wire on Market street. The wire
had been blown down during the
storm, and when the bussman drove
up the street to the station the wheels
of the vehicle passed over the danger
Gus wire. The rubber tires of the buss
prevented an accident. AS soon as it
was discovered the wire was removed.
Reports OF the storm in the outlying
districts of the county are still very
rneager, but the truck farmers who
came to the city this morning report
that the storm was very severe in all
parts of the county. Great damage
was done by the wind and the corn was
badly affected. In many places the
entire crop was 1eve1ed to the ground.
No damage to buildings or stock is re-