The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-23
IN STORMS PATH
THOUSANDS or INDIANAPOLIS PEO-
PIE DRENCHED TO THE SKIN.
Crowds of CooI-Breeze Seekers
Caush: at Fairview and Broad
Ripple Parks.
CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE
TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE AND
sTREET-CAR SERVICE CRIPPLED.
Followed by Thunder, Lightning
md Torrents OF Rain.
WIRES DEAD" FOR HOURS
NEws-GATHERING SERVICE DE-
MoRALIZED MOST OF THE NIGHT.
No Communication with Many Cities
Extent of the Storm-Meager Re-
ports from Indiana Towns.
Brisk Wind That Blew Down Trees
Followed by Thunder, Lightning
md Torrents of Rain.
WIRES DEAD" FOR HOURS
NEwS-GATHERING SERVICE DE-
MORALIzED MOST OF THE NIGHT.
No Communication with Many Cities
Extent of the Storm-Meager Re-
ports from Indiana Towns.

The storm that came up shortly after 10
O'Clock last night did much damage to
trees. small buildings and the telephone
and telegraph companies. and the street
car company in this city The wind was ac-
companied by heavy rain that drencb I'd
pedestrians and those who chanced TO oe
abroad before they could get into places OF
shelter.
The first indication of the storm was a
heavy cloud that hung in the north and
northwest for almost an hour before the
elements cut loose.
The constant electrical display made the
timid finch. At times the whole city was
lighted. so brilliant were the flashes of
lightning These flashes were followed by
sharp reports and loud roars of thunder
that caused many who were watching the
storms advance TO move about uneasily.
Occasionally, where there were telephones
e sharp click could be heard on the bells,
Indicating that lightning having its
play the wires. No one wanted to use
telephones under the circumstances, and
If they had. they would have found the
exchanges In such a condition that IL was
questionable whether or not they would get
service.
PEOPLE IN THE STREETS
There were many persons on the streets
when the storm came up, the night having
been so warm that the Saturday night
crowd fingered longer than usual-just long
enough to be caught by the rain and storm.
The crowd rushed for open stores. hall
ways and entrances TO buildings that were
protected by awnings, and some crouched
In places that they imagined would shield
them from the elements. The result was
that many of these same persons were seen
later coming from their places of hiding
with the water dripping from every gar
nent on their bodies. Umbrellas were not
much In evidence. the people having come
down town before the weather became
threatening. AS the street cars came along
many rushed out TO the curbing in the rain
from places that were really dry, only to
be soaked in trying TO pull aside closely
drawn curtains that persons on the inside
were holding 10 keep the rain and more
passengers out.
Perhaps no place in the city witnessed
such wild scene as the city market. Ii
happened that the market stands did bust
ness a little longer than usual last night
and dozens OF lights were cleaning over
the market place when the storm came up.
Plenty of warning was given the marketers
and merchants by the lightning and loud
reports Of thunder coming nearer each
time, but IL was not needed until the storm
broke with a deluge of rain. Then wild
scurrying began for shelter. The market
ers tried to cram vegetables they had pur-
chased into market baskets already heaped
as they ran for the market house. The mer-
chants made strenuous efforts TO collect
their goods and protect them with boxes
and barrels as best they could but they
were caught with the work half done. Soon
the frail structures began to fall and piles
of light boxes and barrels collapsed.
Strawberries, cabbages. onions. radishes,
potatoes. beets and vegetables OF all kinds
mingled in heaps where "A market stand
had once been. Some of the owners of the
stands staid with them through the storm.
while others deserted their posts and
sought shelter in the market house
WOMAN IN MASCULINE ATTIRE.
The women market keepers perhaps suf-
fered more than the men. as they were
longer In getting into shelter One fat wom-
an. weighing about 200 pounds who had a
stand on Market street. near Alabama. was
soon after the storm i'm an attire that would
have concealed her identity from her most
regular customers. She had gone 10 the
market house and there a healthy butcher
about her size had given her a pair of
pantaloons and a shirt. She stood where
her stand had been with a umbrella close
over her face. but her pose presented such
unusual appearance that one could
readily see she was not at home in mascu-
line attire.
The telephone companies suffered consid-
cradle damage. but the extent could not be
determined last night The New Telephone
Company had sixty or seventy telephones
out OF service and for about five minutes
when the storm was at its worst, the man
ager would not allow the operators TO 70
near the switch board. The Central Union
Telephone Company had much trouble re-
ceiving calls during the storm and had
about 300 phones out OF service Both
switchboards are protected from lightning
by apparatus outside the buildings and they
we're not damaged.
THOUSANDS CAUGHT AT PARKS.
Several thousand people had hurried from
the hot city 10 the cooler parks early in
the evening. and most OF them were pre-
pairing TO go home. soon after 10 o'clock
when the storm burst suddenly and let
down a torrent or rain. To add 10 the be-
wilderment OF the throngs at Fairview
and Broad Ripple Park lightning flashed
continually. encircling the horizon. and
thunder rolled steadily. There was a rush
for the street-car stations. but they af-
forded little protection. and the crowds
were drenched through
The storm was too much for the street
cars. The atmosphere was so heavily
charged with electricity. that the men at
the Sowerhouse on West washington
ss~sst decided IL woule be unsafe TO keep