Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-17
PLAYS HAVOC
Buildings and Crops Throughout
the County Are DAM
aged.
DowNPoUR OF GIANT HAILsToNEs.
Telephones and Telegraph in Bad
State Story of the
Blow.

Oo1 4NOOh I5-oLN Al NhO O1A4 III ~ ,
of today, while the accompanying
wind, rain and lightning did consid-
cradle damage.
The storm ragged from COS till 7:30.
In that period the precipitation was
1.29 inches. For one minute, accord
ing to the data furnished by the gov
eminent weather bureau, the wind
sailed along at rate of 46 miles an
hour, and for five minutes the veloci-
ty was 40 miles an hour. II was a
northwestern gale and of sufficient
force to work destruction to crops,
shrubbery, fences and buildings.
The hail played rag-time on win
dows and awakened those who were
wont to slum Der over time. The ice
man who delivers at a residence in the
Seventh ward was surprised, so he said
not to find a card hanging out for him
this morning. He supposed the fami-
" was away on a visit, but later he
ascertained the small boy of the
household had gathered a basket OF
hail stones, dumped them into the
refrigerator and saved the family ex-
pense account 10 cents.
B. f. King. freight inspector at the
Milwaukee-and King is known to be
a second George Washington - states
when he opened the front door of his
home to take a "peninsula" at the
heavens he received q blow that stag
gered him. At first he feared be had
been attacked by an early morning
burglar. He corralled the icy chunk
OF rN1lo6 oil Ln
tended bringing it down town to
make his story good, but old Sol de-
feated his plans.
Storm Drain Caved In.
Among minor damages wrought
about town were the Caving in of the
mouth of the Nineteenth street storm
drain, the upse ting of a watchman's
shanty on the railroad tracks at the
foot of Eighteenth street, and the
blowing away of part of the railing
on the viaduct. The storm COM
ing at a time when early going
people were forced to be on the
streets, wrecked numerous UNI
brellas and soaked many unfortunate
pedestrians. Bill boards of the OBJ
noXious movable variety were genor-
ally smashed and washed about the
street, and left with sharp nails point
ed up ready to puncture horses feet
and bicycle tires. Many awnings
were torn and others blown to pieces.
The telephone system has suffered
severely as n result of the storm. just
how severely it seems impossible to
find out. but there is no Disgusting
the fact that a large mum Der of
subscribers are entirely cut out. The
entire force of inemeA was out all
day repairing broken cables and
tangled wires.
Telegraph wires were also grounded,
badly criPpling the service.
The police and fire alarm system
was rendered useless for the greater
part of the day by the grounding of
the wires.
struck by Lightning.
While the storm was raging light
ming struck the residence of Gottfrled
Heigen. 1889 Thirtv-eighth street
tearing away n section of the cornioe
on the roof, but doing no more ex-
tensive damage.
A barn belonging to James Gill
braith, a farmer of Rural, was struck
by lightning this morning ond burned
to the ground. Two horses, besides
a quantity of hay and grain. were con-
sumed. The loss will probably reach
81 600.
A distillery plant in South Rock
Island was struck by all electric bolt.
The roof of the building was damaged.
In Davenport lightning struck
cottage at the orphans home. Trees
were blown down all over the city,
street cars being tied up for an hour
on account of the obstruction in the
streets.
Corn Crop Suffers.
By far the heaviest losses by the
storms fury was on the farmers. The
ground had been softened by recent
rains and corn is Just at the proper
stage to be most easily blown down.
In heids exposed to the full force of
the wind much damage was done.
Steamer Goes to the Bottom.
The rafter Eclipse was tied up at
LeClaire this morning when the storm
struck her. She was torn loose from
her moorings and started down
stream for the rapids with no one
a board. Destruction seemed certain,
but river man started in pursuit in
a skiff. overhauled her. and succeed
ed in getting the anchor overheard
before the rapids were reached. As
she was being pulled toward the Iowa
shore she went to the bottom, but as
the water is shallow there it will be
an easy matter to raise her.
V. B. Conklin, Bowersville, o.,