Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-27
TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR
Central Nebraska Dronchcd by Ono Of the
Worst Rains Ever Known,
KEARNEY THE CENTER or DISTURBANCE
Nearly Five Inches Of Water Comes
Down in Space Of Two Hours,
TeLtGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION CUT OFF
Canning Factory Wrecked by Lightning and
Other Buildings Injured,
sLEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION CUT OFF
DAMAGE OUT IN THE COUNTRY IMMENSE
Grain Entirely Dcstroycd by Rain
and Hall aud Farmers suner
LOSSES of Hundreds of Thou
sands of Dollars.


kBARNEY, Ncb., June 26-CSpeclal Tcle.
gram.)-Last evening about o'crock Kear-
hcy was visited by one Of the most severe
storms of wind. rain, hail and lightning that
mas passed over this vicinity in years Tho
storm lasted for over two hours, during
which time 4.6l inches Of rain fell.
AS the storm came up from the northwest
and the black clouds began to roll /, was
watched with great anxiety by citizens. they
being fearful that a cyclone was coming.
! The streets were flooded loose telephone
poics. boxes, barrels loated about and side
walks were ahoat. For nearly a mile all
the poles of the Kearney Electric company
were broken off and in many other places
single poles were blown down.
4 The canning factory west of town was
struck by lightning. its roof blown off and
across the Union Pacific railroad tracks. On
! its way across the tracks 1t cut off all tele-
| graph wires. Several buildings in town
were partially unroofed and great number
] OF trees blown down. With the exception
of one wire of the b. & NJ. railroad all
! communication was cut off last night by
telegraph
Telephone reports from UP the Kearney &
! Black Hills railroad show that heavy rain
accompanied by hail and wind, did much
damage Sunday night. At Watertown two
! boxcars were blown off the switch and down
the main fine three miles, with brakes set.
| railroad bridge east of Oconto was en-
| tirely carried away and another one west
| had an end washed out.
| Dam Goes Ont.
North Of Kearney a large dam on Wood
! river carried away by the food and
! from Gibbon come reports that Wood river
! is higher there than ever known of before.
! AS near as can be ascertained about sixty
! sections of land in Wood river valley, along
! the Kearney G. Black Hills railroad, were
| devastated by the hail and wind. The
! largest range tank of the Kearney Gas COM
! pany was flooded, entaiing loss of nearly
! 5000 gallons of gasoline.
! Between Kearney and Gbbon large num-
! ber Of Union Pacific telegraph poles are
| down, as well few west of Kearney,
| Your correspond nj made visit this aft
ernoon to part of the devastated terri
tory and found all the small grain pounded
into the earth and corn cut to pieces. Farm
ers think late corn may make a small crop.
The small grain is entirely ruined. Tho
| loss to farmers will amount to hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars. Hail and tornado in
surance companies also have heavy losses.
On account of the several washouts along
the Beatrice G. Hastings railroad the Gala
way train was unable to make its regular
worst storm that ever passed over this sec
, ton.
Heavy Rain mt GibbOn.
GIBBON. Neb., June -(Special)-A
terrific rain fell here yesterday evening,
over two inches of water coming down in
side of an hour. The clouds all rushed to
common center northwest of town and
for few minutes it looked like a cyclone
pouring rain soon set in, accompanied by
-tnp .a1a al
was under water for some time after the
rain essed up. Considerable hail fell in
town, some of it as large as small hens
eggs. but it did no damage as little wind
accompanied the storm. Southwest of town
few inches Of hail damaged crops consid-
erably, and west near Karney the wind
blew down wires and small buildings.
Wood River came up over four feet dur
Ing the night and is still rising rapidly. So
much timber was cut on the river last win
ter and spring, and the brush being left, il
is now coming down in large quantities and
lodging against the bridges. There is con-
siderable fear expressed that some OF the
bridges cannot stand the terrific pressure
and are bound TO go. but fear is felt Of
the bridges near town.
Damage at Other Points
LlTCHFIELD, NeD., June 26-(Special
Ielegram.)-The worst rain and hail storm
that has visited this section in years came at
43o last night. Crops are cut smooth To
the ground. Small grain is entirely ruined.
but corn may revive some. The full axteat
OF the storm is not yet known. Some out
buildings and many windmills were de-
stroyed Some stock was killed, but no
people were injured. The railroad tracks
were washed out in many places between
Mason and Ravenna. No trains can run for
several days.
MINDEN. Neb., June 26.-(Special Tele-
gram, )--seven inches of rain fell here last
night. and all the low lands are flooded
There was no damage except on the hillsides
where crops were washed somewhat The
rain was general throughout this section.
FARNAM Neb., June 6.--(special)--A
succession of showers during the last week
has done much to eliminate the effects Of
the hot winds preceding them. There VII
he visible shrinkaEc in the crop OF small
grain, which is headed out too near tho
ground, Corn is growing finely, with good
weather to foster II, Cheertulness prevails
among he producers and merchants
STANTON, June 26.-- Special stanton
county's crop prospects were never better
than they are at the present time, and while
the county has had rather too much rain
since spring opened. no particular damage
has been done
Upward Of 2oo people from this place
went TO Norfolk on tho Orphans Home
excursion
HASTINGS Neb., June 20 tSpcclall-
good soaking rain Of an inch aud an
eighth fell upon the grain nelis ~ Adams
county during last night and everything
looks bright ana green this morning n
would he impossible 20 have corn in bsf-
ter condition than n Is az prosrni
CILhERrSpN Neh June g6 Special
Telegram heavy rain fcl here ths
afternoon. The Republican river uhieh has
been dry AN spring BE- noN full % uatsr
EDGAR Nch June ~ sne,lall
good deal of rain has fallen here tutius
the last tNo weeks ana lss' night another
heavy rain came com e. generally u
splendid condition bul msng usgss of lats
eoru are Esiling hadh rhoket uitu sssia