The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-23
Chimngs Blown Over and Barns
Lifted.
Nelson's Poultry Plant
Suffered.
other Interesting Incidents of
the Storm.

South Portland seems to have been the
center OF the storm which reached It's
eliminating point late Wednesday after
noon, ami for about five minutes at least
the wind swooped down on certain sec
tion of our city with fury at which a
genuine Kansas cyclone wonld have had
no occasion to blush. 1t was about five
O'Clock when the wind suddenly switched
to the westward and picked out well
defined track for its destructive work.
taking the westerly end of Broadway
and vicinity as starting point. and
thence sweeping south-sasterly along
Pine, Mariner, Snake Hill, Main street,
willard, at last to waste It's energies In
the waters beyond.
Evidences OF the devastating foroe OF
the gale were on every side yesterday,
and psrnaps the saddest looking spot was
Niles Nelson's poultry plant on Snake
Hill. Here 1t was that this miniature
cyclone cut up its most peculiar FRANKS.
As the keeper started out to see just what
was going on the first sight which crossed
his vision was the uplifting Of big
chicken coop which was carried several
feet and dropped, chickens and all, at
the bottom of deep cess pool. Not far
of was large hennery, just about ready
for use, Its dimensions being 100 feet
long IL feet wide, feet high, resting on
a solid stone foundation 2 feet high.
When the wind paid It's respects to this
structure 1t first picked of the roof and
landed 1t SOJ feet distant. The sides
then collapsed while the pieces were car
ried to the four quarters of the wind, OF
course this building IS q total wreck, and
in this connection it should be mentioned
that It came very near causing the death
OF boy from Willard. Yesterday morn
ing, while the detris was being removed,
young Phillip Loveitt dove down TO
catch mouse, when suddenly theztin-
bers fell en- him. He was pulled outspale
ana unconscious, and for time he was
animation 1t was found that no bones
were broken, and unless internal injuries
vera received, the boy Will likely come
round all right.
Mr.. Nelson had scattered about the
grounds OF his plant a dozen or more
good sized coops, which made fine sport
for the wind. One Of these coops was
carried a distance of over 500 feet, and
win such force rs to knock down large
posts and to be sent through five different
wire MEETINGS which were spread on
frames Most of the other coops Jared
just as badly, and only few are left
standing. Fortunately the Chickens laid
low, and all things considered, the loss
of them was slight, probably not aggre-
eating more than ten. Mr.. Nelson esti-
mates his financial loss at about SIS.
Standing on the top of Snake Hin and
looking over in the direction Of Willard,
the havoc played with chimneys was very
noticeable In this neighborhood, at least
a dozen chlmneys were blown down, and
the bricks were very generously scattered.
The frame of John Woodbury's new houss
was carried away and boards Uttered the
street.
10 show that the storm was no respec
ter OF persons, we will enumerate several
instances where damage was done. Mr..
Downs's barn on Pine strees was lifted
up bodily and dropped seven feet from
the starting point; the old Mosher barn
was knocked out Of shape and sent
a-spinning; Thomas Willard had hem
merry about as big as barn, and 1t was
tipped over in the easiest manner posi-
BILE; big rock on Mariner street, the
moving of which would have proved
good test for prize oxen at county fair,
was disturbed from It's long resting
place: Andrew Smart's ehimneys went
by the board and good. sizsd tree, a
foot through, was literally twisted and
blown into the pasture beyond, while the
wooden walk about 100 feet from his
house unoeremoniously tried to enter
his front door.
: 1t is hardly necessary TO further multi
ply cases or to dwell upon broken win
dows and doors along the distinctly
path Of the storm, save to say
that It's effects were felt as far to the west
ward as Nesting House hill, where An
drew Sawyer g. fences were blown down
and the doors Of Daniel Sawyer's barn
were Knocked from their hinges
Down in knightville the railing on |
Mill Pond bridge WIS blown away, ana !
Mr. O'Neil, who was ignorant OF the |
fact, came very near tumbiing off into
the water, and would most likely have
done SO but for the arrival of an electric |
car, which illuminated him in regard |
to the impending danger.
This was not the electric car. however,
which had the queer experience on Broad
way late in the afternoon. Tine car which
left Monument Square about five o'clock
Was struck by the tornado and its lights |
vent out. when this car reached Broad
way the conductor got out and re-Iighted |
he car. and going a short distance on |
Broadway some oDe on the road cried |
mt, "Look ahead, there is danger" me
notorman went on slowly. and luckily |