Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-04
windy CITY STRUCK
Terrific Electrical Storm Struck
Chicago Killing Four Peo-
ple-Great Damage
DEATH IN A FISHING PARTY
Panic at Harlem Race Track Averted
by the Band Playing Two Step
Hotel Inmates scared-cars Stopped
-Workmen Struck by Lightning
Fisher Boys Death Was Pathetic.

Chicago, Aug. 4.-Coming out Of the
northwest, with all the appearances of
tornado, a Storm preceded by mass
of copper-colored clouds, swept across
Chicago yesterday afternoon, spend
ing its greatest force in Harlem and the
southern section of the city. AS d
result four are dead, eighteen injured,
twelve buildings were struck by light
ming and quarter of million dol
lars worth of property destroyed.
On the South Side so severe was
the thunder that it's rumble seemed
almost continuous. Lightning was re
sponsible for many injuries and much
damage.
The electrical display took place In
the midst of a pelting rain The heavy
fall tore flowers in the parks to tat
tiers. and cut off leaves, which, swept
before the great wind, were as blind
ing as sand. In the face of the rain
and wind it was impossible to make
progress of any kind. Mctormen, I'M
front of them, ran their cars at a
snail's pace, and on the elevated lines
trains We're stopped for time because
OF the fear of collisions.
AT Harlem race track, which opened
its midsummer meeting. yesterday,
panic was averted by the band. While
the downpour was heaviest the light
ming seemed to enveiop the grand stand
at times. the bolts apparently breaking
overhead. There was a rush for cover
that alarmed the faint hearted, and
only the action Of the musicians, who
began a two-step, stopped what had
every indication of headlong rush
from the stand.
Another panic narrowly was escaped
at Hotel Warner, Thirty Third stree:
and Cottage Grove avenut, when light
ming struck that building. A great
section of the roof was set on fire, and
terror-stricken guests ran into the hall
ways calling for help.
Reassured by the employees of the
hotel, nearly all of them returned to
their rooms, aliho a few fled across the
took refuge in stores The fire de-
partment quickly extiilguished the
blaze and the damage done was not
great
Boy Fishers Death Pathetic.
The most pathetic incident of the
storm was the death of Henry Wag-
ner. With his father and his brother
and sister he was fishing from the
end of the Fifty-Fifth street pier when
the storm broke They, We're having
Il holiday together, and had prepared
for it by wearing old garments, so
none ran for shelter when the rain
began to fall
Suddenly there was a flash that blinded
them. With 1t came a crash that al
most left them deaf. For a minute the
father stood there, trying to collect his
senses. Then he saw that his older boy
had fallen to the pier and was lying
there motionless.
Before he could reach him. however,
others on the pier were beside him. In
the crowd WIS a physician. who, after
a moments examination, said that the
boy was dead.
None of the family would believe 1t.
They worked over the hoy and tried to
call him back TO life. until the police
ambulance arrived, and even then they
could be persuaded that he was dead.
1t was necessary to use force to keep
them from riding to the morgue in I he
vehicle with the dead boy.
Croy Thornton was watching the
storm from his engine on the Illinois
Central tracks, when thunderbolt
struck the rails few yards away. He
lost his balance and fell to the ground
crushing his skull. He is not expected
to recover.
kurtz and Kirthins are section hands.
When the storm came up they crawled
beneath freight car standing upon a
switch IN the yards. A freight train
backed down upon this car to couple It.,
and the men fere crushed before they
could ESCAPE the wheels. Both will
probably die.
When lightning struck the German
Lutheran church in Harlem injurlng
Nathan Goldenbogen, it was the third
time in five, years. The first time, the
building then standing burned to the
ground, and the second time, a few
months ago, the lightning played such
havoc that it was decided to redecorate
the church. Goldenbogen was one OF the
men at work on the interior when the
bolt struck the steepe.
Seven Felled i'm Shanty.
The seven structural iron workers
employed ON the new manual training
school, of the University of Chicago, at
Fifty-eighth street and Kimbark ave-
nue., narrowly escaped instant death.
They had sought shelter in a shanty
opposite the new university building.
They were standing near the doorway
in group watching the storm.
Suddenly there was q binding flash
and the shanty was struck by lightning.
All were knocked to- the ground and
other workmen, who had taken shelter
in another shanty, went to their res
cue, expecting to find them all killed.
They were unconscious and were re-
moved to the other rihanty, near Fifty
ninth street and kinibark avenue.
All the men with the exception OF
Fred Winger recovered Consciousness.
It was thought that he would not live
but few moments and he was hurried
in an ambulance to the Lakeside hos
pital, where it was said that he had
little chaace of recovery. One other
nan was removed tt, the Lakeside hos
pital, while the others We're taken to