The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-07-05
Disastrous Rain and Wind Storms
in the West.


ST.. Louis, Mo-, June %. This city and
vicinity is the center of q rainstorm OF unpre-
cedented severity that has prevailed almost
necessarily since Saturday morning. Accord
ing to the local weather bureau reports 5.45
inches of rain has fallen since early Saturday
morning. Attimes the storm equaled cloud
burst in severity.
The storm is the most widespread that has
been experienced in this country for many
years, according to weather bureau officials,
extending from the Rocky mountains to the
Alleghenies In Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Hi
nois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania the
rainfall dnring yesterday and today averaged
from one toSIWo inches
Considerable damage in this yicinity-the
total estimated at about $3.50, 0O0--resulted
from the wind that accompanied the ram.
Last night the wind attained a velocity OF
about 35 miles an hour, blowing down trees,
telephone, telegraph and trolley poles and in
terfering with communication of all sorts. At
least 1000 shade trees in various parts of the
city are reported blown down. From the
country surrounding comes reports OF destrnc-
ton to and the washing out of railroad tracks
and bridges, causing considerable delay to
trains.
Five hundred feet of the north wall of the
Vasied Industries Palace at the Worlds Fair
site fell last night as the result OF the storm,
the water undermining the foundations when
the wind was at its height. In places the
Worlds Fair grounds are covered with rain.
Nearly all inbound trains were greatly de-
Iayed today as result of the storm, arriving
from 40 minutes to five or six hours late.
Several washouts were reported, and telegraph
wires were down, SO that the trains could not
be located.
One of the most disastrous floods in the his
tory of Alton, ILL.,, and vicinity resulted today
from the heavy rains of Friday and Saturday.
At 4 O. clock this afternoon it was estimated
that 10000 acres have been covered by the
overflow of Wood river, which is three to six
miles wide. Most of this land is either occu-
pied by manufacturing interests or planted IN
crops.
The greatest single disaster caused by the
food was the destruction of the plant OF the
Stoneware Pipe Company at East Alton.
The loss is estimated at $40, 600.
In East Alton the residents were compelled
to use skiffs to get about the principal streets
today The station of the Chicago, Buriing-
ton and Quincy railroad was carried away by
the food and lodged in a field a quarter of
mile distant The food produced the worst
railroad tie-up in recent years in the vicinity
of the Altons. The Big Four and the Chi
cago. Peoria and St Louis railroads were hit
the hardest The Burlington (west side) was
the only line working directly between Alton
and ST. Louis today. The Chicago, Burling-
ton and Quincy had bad washout between
Upper Alton and Woods Station.
LINCOLN, NEB., June 29.-Eastern Nebraska
has had four days of almost continuous rain
fall, flooding corn6elds and delaying the har-
yesting Of small grain Some damage has
been done to wheat in the shock. Country
roads are almost impossible. The tempera-
ture has ranged in the 50s, today's high mark
being So degrees. One year ago today the
thermometer recorded 1O3.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN, June 29.-Later IN
formation from the storm OF Saturday after
noon shows that great damage was done to
farms in this section, many barns and other
buildings having been blown down.
Cora Kelly, public school teacher OF this
city, while driving through grove OF trees in
Meigs county, near Dayton, Tenn, was killed
by falling tree. -,
James Grayson, proprietor of sawmil
near this city, and his sawyer, Jesse May,
were both killed.
Private Joseph E. Quirk, of the Seventh
Regiment, while engaged in trying to prevent
stampede of the horses in the corral, was
trampled under the feet of the animals and
fatally injured.
At Hartman, Tenn, 15-year old daugh-
ter of Frank Digger was struck by lightning
and killed.
DENVER, Col, June 80. The drouth, which
threatened to be the most severe that Colorado
has known for years, has been broken By a
heavy and widespread rain. Though the
storm in places was accompanied by hail that
did much damage, this is trivial compared
with the value of the crops saved by the ram.
The storm damage in Denver and vicinity Is
estimated at all the way from $4,000 to $780,,
900.
Snow fell to the depth of eight inches in
Leadyille and many other placesin the noun
tains.