Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-25
Tornado Sweeps Over Des
Moines State Fair Grounds,
Creating Great Havoc
SUFFERS GREAT LOSS
The Waterloo Tent Torn to Shreds and
Exhibits Soaked. Besides General
Devastation Among the Show Tents
Big Swine Tent Blown Down-Sev-
eral Have Miraculous Escapes.
Special TO Times-Rennhlican.

Speclal to I1neS-Republican.
Des Mcines, Aug. 25.-The storm
which swept over the state fair grounds
last night approached the proportions
of a tornado and caused loss estimat-
ed at $4,000. The Waterloo manufact-
urers exhibit, was damaged very SER
iously, the large tent being blown down
and the exhibit almost ruined. Sever
that no lives were lost seems almost a
miracle
The storm, which was threatened
during the evening, came on with full
force at 10 o'clock, accompanied by a
hard rain. The Waterloo tent was torn
in shreds, as if it had been made of
paper and the rain dashed in on the
splendid exhibits of goods, soaking
them completely. Half dozen men
We're in the ten; and were sleeping
there, among them Policeman McSwee-
ney of Waterloo. 1t was thought at
first he and his companions might have
been killed, but on searching the
wreckage all were found safe Even
the cook tent, which is located just east
of the main tent, was upset, but the
occupants were uninjured.
a large number of Waterloo manu-.
facturers and business men are in the
city. but are living in the hotels down
town during the fair. They remained in
ignorance of the wrecking of the tent
until informed by a press representa-
tive. AL! said that it was impossible
to estimate the damage until an investi-
cation could be made this morning, bur
all agreed that it would be great. as
much of the property, of which there
thirteen car loads Is perishable.
T. C. Menges, OF the Waterloo Gas
Engine Company. was first informed OF
the effects of the storm. He said the
loss would undoubtedly be heavy thu
definite figures or anything like them
could not be had until there was
complete investigation this morning
He said the effects of the storm woulG.
be overcome as far as possible today
and that new tent would be put up
at once. Mr.. Menges said the chief
damage would probably fall on the
Waterloo Casket Company. Matt Par"
rott & Sons, who had a fine exhibit OF
blank books: Nauman & Company, VIII
had a fine exhibit Of office fixtures; tbs
Black Hawk Coffee and Spice Company
and the Waterloo Carriage Company.
Not only was the Waterloo tent swept
down, but there was general deVasth-
ton in that part of the fair grounds
occupied mainly by the show tents. This
is the tract lying west of the secretary's
office and south of the amphitheater.
The heavy gale ripped Its way thru the
insecure tents in this part of the
grounds and in many places left noth-
ing but naked tent poles standing. TIE
tent occupied by that attraction known
as "A Trip to the Moon" looked as II
it had departed in earnest for some Oh
the celestial planets, and would not
come down in time TO enable the pro-
prietor to operate on the public much
earlier than fair week, 1904.
Booths were wrecked and their con-
tents soaked and there was fearful hay
oc along the orange cider and lemon
ade stands and the institutions where
the weinerwurst and the bun are COM
bined into Coney island sandwiches
and other like tempting delicacies
Panic reigned for some time among
the female occupants of some OF the
tents that were blown down. They ran
forth screaming in all directions. Many
had retired and when the tents We're
wrecked scurried out into the storm
in the lightest OF garments and hurried
helplessly to and fro, being soaked piti-
lessly by the pouring rain.
The big swine tent in that depart
ment was blown down. None of the
hogs were injured however. The heavy
rain deluged that part of the ground
with water and made it decidedly I'M
pleasant for the men camping in that
region. Secretary Simpson had the
stock and swine pavilions opened and
allowed all that were driven out of their
tents by the storm to take refuge there.
None of the campers tents proper, in
the east part of the grounds were af-
fected, as they are well protected by the
trees.
In the machinery department aside
from the Waterloo tent, it did not APP
pear last night as if much damage had
been done The tent of Gay & Com
pany. buggy manufacturers was blown
down. The Des Moines Tent and Aw-
ming company has tent and force OF
men on the grounds and this force was
busy thru the night trying to restore
order out of chaos. 1t appears no pre-
paration for a storm had been made in
the case of the Waterloo tent and that
the canvass was so loosely stretched
as to make 1t susceptible in the extreme
to a heavy storm. AT least this is the
criticism freely INDUCED in at the
grounds
The state fair buildings were in no
way injured and the storm will in no
way interfere with the regular program
of the fair. Secretary Simpson said last
evening the program today would be
carried out as usual, and the judging