The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-12
Wind Blew 100 Miles an Hour, the
Lightning Was Incessant and
Rain Fell I'm Torrents.
DANCING HALL BLOWN DOWN
THREE WOMEN KILLED AND OTHER
MERRYMAKERs INJURED.
Much Damage in and About Peoria,
Where Several Lives Were Lost
and Many Persons Hurt.

BLOOMINGTON. Ill. June n-Stretch-
Ing across a pathway 100 miles in width
and devastating territory fully 200 miles
long. extending from Livingston county on
the north and Macoupin county on the
south. and leaving its mark across the
night. inflicted a property loss which will
aggregate a million dollars and cost a
dozen lives. The brunt of the storm fell
upon Mclean and adjoining counties
Lightning was incessant for two hours,
but was marked by absence of thunder
claps. The wind reached a velocity of 100
miles an hour and left trail of destruc-
ton and death
The storm the worst in the history
of central Illinois. An almost complete
paralysis of telegraph and telephone lines
for twelve hours made it impossible to Sc
cure full details of the disaster. 1t is now
known that. while the fatalities in Nc
Lean county were but tree. scores of per-
sons were seriously Jured and hundreds
of narrow escapes from death were re-
ported. Not a village or city of Mclean
county escaped. and from every district
comes the same report of destroyed build
ings, injury 10 growing crops and razed
fruit and shade trees. The aggregate loss
in Mclean county. not including three
lives at Merna or thousands upon thou
sands of shade and fruit trees that were
leveled. will be between 100000 and 100000
roughly estimated. Claims for tornado in
surance, up TO this evening, among local
agents. have reached $4,000. and it is be
lieved that this sum will be doubled. This
amount oLly represents the loss outside of
Bloomin gton-in Mclean county farming
districts.
MERNA SUFFERED.
The heaviest loss in proportion to popu-
lation fell upon Merna. village ten miles
east Of Bloomington where the Town Hall,
used by party of $50 for dance. was de-
stroyed. three of the women dancers being
instantly killed by falling timbers. They
were Mrs. Edward Martin, aged twenty
six. wife of a weIl-to-do farmer of this
county; her sister. Miss Lena Gahagan,
aged twenty-three, and Miss Anna Kelly
living near Merna. When the storm struck
the building its swaying alarmed the party
of merrymakers- All made a rush for exits
and a fierce struggle ensued. The three
women whose names have been given were
left behind and killed instantly by falling
timbers The two sisters were found locked
In each others arms. Miss Kelly was
killed as she was about to be pulled
through an open window by Clement
Spencer A moment more and she would
have been saved. Spencer was hurt inter-
naTy and may die. Others seriously in
jured are Thomas Gahagan, cousin of the
two sisters killed, and John Kelly.
brother OF Miss Anna, was one of the vic
Tins Fully nifty others were painfully in
1ured. All were taken to residences and
farm houses. Many surgeons from Bloom
ington were summoned 10 dress wounds
and were kept busy during the entire day.
At Merna. in addition 10 the Town Hall.
the KinseIa impliment house was leveled
and many other structures destroyed. The
Iew Methodist Church at Twin Grove was
demolished By huge tree, involving loss
OF $1,000 Wesleyan University lost its
roof and cupola. causing $4,000 loss.
street-car service in Bloomington was re-
suned this evening but it will be week
before the electric light plant will have its
wires up. Buildings at the power house
were unroofed and the loss 10 the munich
patty will be many thousand dollars.
THOUSANDS OF TREES BROKEN.
The greatest loss in Bloomington was the
destruction OF thousands OF shade trees. The
streets to-day are In many cases impossible
by reason OF fallen trees. 1t is estimated
that fully one-third of the trees in the city
and vicinity are either broken off at the
trcnk or badly damaged by the loss of the
larger branches. The loss through the de-
struction OF fruit trees will also reach large
proportions. many orchards being entirely
leveled The cherry crop. which Is now
ready for picking. will be saved partially.
but with apples and other fruits the loss is
total Farmers report that corn will re-
ceive a backset but that oats will suffer
most heavily. Farmers with scarcely an ex-
ception lost stock. barns or windmills.
Numerous residences were moved from
their foundations and partly wrecked.
Many brickyards at the edge Of the city
were destroyed. the longe rows OF sheds
Offering easy MARKS for the wind. This is