Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-04-03
DAMAGE BY STORMS.
A Fierce Windstorm Visited Pitts
burg, Pa, Yesterday.
SERIOUS FLOODS IN TENNESSEE.
twenty-five Lives Known to Be Lost-Ths
Northern Pacific Situation Serious
Tracks sixteen Feet Under Water
A Blizzard In Nebraska.

Pittsburg, Pa, March 31.-One of
the fiercest windstorms ever known
in this section struck the city yes
terday just before noon and did al
most incalculable damage to prop
erty and injured many people, some
Of whom may die from the effects of
their wounds. Scores Of houses were
unroofed, many trees were blown
down, mill stacks toppled over and
telegraph and telephone wires gen
orally disabled. The most serious
accident was the unroofng of the
Knoxville Presbyterian church in
Knoxville. The church at the time
was filled with an Easter congrega-
ton numbering about 900 persons.
While the minister was in the midst
Of his sermon particularly strong
gust of wind blew over the large
chimney and lifted portion of the
roof of the building. The bricks
from the chimney crashed through |
the roof and carried huge piece Of
the hardwood ceiling down upon the
worshippers in the pews. An indie
scribable panic ensued and frantic |
rush was made for the doors and
windows. At least 40 persons were
caught by the wreckage and more
or less hurt. OF this number five
may not recover.
The towboat Belle MCGOWAN was
blown over in the Ohio river and
completely wrecked. Her crew was
rescued. Jones & Laughlins had IA
of their furnace stacks blown down,
necessitating the shut down of por-
ton of their plant for weeks.
As Rev. J. W. English, pastor Of
the Robinson Run U. 2. church, near
Mcdonald, was raising his arms to
pronounce the benediction lightning
struck the church spre and it toppled
upon the roof, crushing it and iniur-
ing number of worshippers, two
of whom will die. Reports of great
damage have been received from
many other places in this section Of
country.
Serious Flood Damage In Tennessee.
Nashville, Tenn, March 3l.-Re-
ports from the flooded districts of
Tennessee emphasize the gravity of
the situation. The damage resulting,
it is believed, will reach $4,0OOO0O,
while 90 lives are known to be lost
Several counties certain to have suf-
fered heavily are yet cut off from
communication and the loss in prop
erty and life may go higher than
these figures. The Louisville & Nash
vile railroad is running few trains
from here to Lynnville, Is miles south
Of Columbia, while the Nashville,
Chattanooga & st. Louis has only
succeeded in getting through to
Murfreesboro. Neither line can re-
sumo regular traffic before to-mor-
row.
The section visited by the flood
embraces one of the richest portions
of the state and damage to farm
lands is a serious item. Stone fences
that have stood the storms of 40
years were washed away in many Of
the well-known river side farms Of
Lincoln county and crops destroyed.
Thousands Of logs are reported
adrift in the upper Cumberland,
which stream at Carthage at five
o'clock yesterday afternoon was ris-
Ing at the rate of six inches per hour
The bridge of the Nashville & Knox
vile railroad ut Lancaster, a 30O-foot
span, said to have cost 100000, went
down Saturday night.
Northern Pacific situation Serious
st. Paul, Mimi, March 31.--'l'he sit
uation of the Northern Pacific is ex-
tremely serious. Reports from Nc
Kenzie are to the effect that lake
80 miles long and two miles wide
has formed and the tracks are IS feet
under water, or perhaps entirely
washed out. Efforts to transfer pas
sengers across this lake have not
been successful. The wind has been
10 high and the water SO rough that
much danger has attended the at
tempt to transfer passengers In small
skiffs. II is thought that an entirely
new track will have to be built
around this gap in the road before
traffic can once more be carried on.
An immense amount Of freight is ac-
mulatng at both ends of the washout
and unless this Is soon moved a great
loss will be entailed upon the rail-
road company in addition to that al
ready occasloned by the delay in
traffic.
A blizzard In Nebraska.
Omaha, Neb,, March 3l.-Reports