The Iola register., 1902-08-22

GN~H>~/N>~H>~.H>~HTS
north side of the plant and we're num-
bered from the west. In the west
building Nos. and p nothing was
left but the iron and brick of the fur
mace itself, nearly all of the frame
building over it having been torn
away and the double chimney knocked
down on top of the furnace. Nos. 3
and 1, shut down for repairs, were
untouched. The one unhurt, live
block was and 6, which is still in
operation. The next two blocks to the
east were unroofed, and the north
sides of the building knocked down.
The blow pipes were all wrecked and
with the blast shut off, there was some.
thing uncanny about the multi-colored
llames issuing from the retorts while
the rain poured down upon them. 1t
was this rain which alone prevented
the plants destruction by fire, for the
flames caught in the wreckage OF one
of the blocks.
Some idea of the force of the wind
may be had from one trick it played
at this plant. On siding were four
freight cars, with their end to the
storm. Three were empty and the
fourth was loaded with 40, 900 pounds
of spelter. The wind pushed this string
of cars up decided grade for fifty
feet or more.
Just east OF the Nicholson plant
stands the old A. j. McCarley house.
A piece of flying roof from one OF the
smelter furnaces was dashed against
the side of the house, caving it in.
The old barn, just northeast of the
house also went down before ,he wind
and part of it was dashed against the
house, wrec6ing the kitchen. Three
families, ten people in all, occupied
the house, but all escaped injury.
A wagon load of wreck from the
barn blew out on the street car track,
falling with crash about fifty feet in
front of street car which was APP
preaching from the east The car was
stopped without injury, but is still
there, the power being shut off soon
The poles of the electric line were
pulled out of plumb by the storm and |
work will have to be done
along the line before traffic can be re
sumed
One OF the tricks of the storm, which |
brings home most forcibly the fierce.
ness Of the gale, was the overturning
of two passenger coaches attached to
the rear of a Katy freight train pass
ing north of the Nicholson smelter.
The train was on the main line and
The two long, heavy coaches were
turned on their side on the siding to
The south. Several people are said to
have been in the cars but none were
seriously hurt. Strangely enough the
string of empty box cars was not up
set.
THE DAMAGE DOWN TOWN,
The storm in the business district
did little damage other than beating
into the stores on the south side,
looding the Iloors and cellars. The
wind was blocked 10y the row Of build
ngs and whipped back and forth.
Empty drygoods boxes were rolled
pack and forth along the street.
Steyer's grocery sprung u leak in the
'oof and flood of water descended
nto the store, doing considerable
lamage to the stock The new Steven
ION building is not equipped with
inished roof and the damage done to
he Lands millinery stock was con-
iderable. 1t seems incredible that
very pane Of glass was not broken
'ut none, save here and there q small
zane, was hurt. A flood of water fill
d the streets and flowed several
nches deep over the crossings.
Coon Creek left its banks and be-
anne in fifteen minutes rushing tor
ent OF water that could shame many
ivers, Aside from washing out some I
idewalk and flooding several houses {
did no damage,
Dead birds have been picked up all '
yer town. In the court house yard ]
is said several hundred dead Eng
sh sparrows were found. They had I
leir homes in 1.-THE walls of the old /
ourt house for which they were
riven by the rain only to be beaten /