Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-27

contemplating an early purchase Of the
house and land.
The destroyed property was owned by w.
r. Sheldon Of this city, travelling represen-
tative Of an Omaha wholesale house. and
was valued at s2,9OO. The night before the
disaster Mr.. Sheldon examined his policy
and found that his time was about TO ex-
pire The tornado insurance was $1,000
The interrnent OF the remains OF John
Mumma- Mrs John Mumma. Miss Gertrude
Mumna. Ray QuiEg Miss Florence Palmer
and John Palmer all tornado victims. who
were hurled from the love reast into the
valley. of death. marked the beginning Of
another storm. but not one OF such disas-
trous character as was that Of Sunday.
Last night heavy rain swelled the creeks
and streams that run into the Little Blue
until It had risen far beyond its banks and
became a dangerous stream which did con-
siderable damage In many places where
the stream had been shallow there flows
river ten feet deep The bridges are under
water and only one wagon oridge can be
crossed with safety.
In Hastings the hail smashed windows
while the wind damaged property In various
parts OF the city. The storm was general
throughout the county, but hall aid the
most damage to the wheat crop through the
nOTtnern Hdil anu tSHFItdhS ny 0N'-f
tween Prosser and Hansen. Reliable far
rners estimate that the wheat crop is dam
aged by one-ffth-
Wrecks Building at Ayr.
The tornado which visited the vicinity Of
Ayr on the 2ith did the following damage:
II struck the ground about two and one
half miles south OF the villagef and en-
countered nrst the farm house Of John
10 b1aW all
the outhouses the house alone, in badly
damaged condition. being left standing
Continuing In an eastern direction 1t came
10 the farm premises of Mrs. Waterman,
and completely demolished all the build
inss The family had sought shelter In
storm cellar or the tragedy of Pauline
would have been re-enacted here. The tor
nado here veered and struck the Reader
school house which was utterly swept
away Then It proceeded toward the house
OF Adam Reader The outhouses were
swept away and in demolishing the wind
mill 1t pulled 100 feet of pipe out of the
we'll Leaving this place It leaned into the
air and proceeded eastward and shortly
after lost its fury.
EXETER, Neb.. May 26-(speoial)-
Later reports OF the storm which occurred
this morning have brought TO light con-
siderable damage The expensive new
Catholic church located in the northern
mart OF the town was struck by lightning
and the tall chimney knocked down,
great part of the bricks falling in and in
turing the wide spouting. A curiously-
shaped slab of shingles was also torn from
the roof in a line with the chimney. In
the country north and northeast small out
buildings were destroyed, large ones were
torn from their foundations and windmills
we're laid low, one man estimating the loss
Of his partially shattered outbuildings at
$500 Some houses were badly shaken.
Hugh Wilson, a farmer living a few miles
out OF town was picked up by the gale on
his way to his barn and deposited against
a barbed wire fence. On regaining his feet
he was again lifted by the wind and car
ried some distance, being finally dropped
in a great pool of water. 1t has been rain
ing steadily since noon and the water, al
ready high. is rapidly rising.
stops Railway Trafhc.
FAIRBuRY. Neb., May 2S.-(special Tel
eSram.l-The Little Blue river today
reached the high water mark of 1902 The
trestle approach to the Rock Island bridge
has moved hve feet 30 no trains can cross
on the Nelson branch of the Rock Island,
The trestle approach TO the river bridge
In washed out leaving two trains stalled on
the west side of the river. All highway
bridges across the river are impossible.
The river is rising slowly and the rain
continues. All crops on low lands are
washed out.
BEATRICE. Neb. May 96.-Cspecial Tel
egram.)-It has been raining here all day
and the flood situation is alarming this
evening The Blue river is out of its
banks and is rising at the rate of three
NNa eli nfe Of
low lands are seeking places of safety on
high ground
NEBRASKA CITY, Neb., May 26-(Spe.
cial Telegram. 1.-THE worst rain OF the yeal
visited this place today. Twelty-foul
bridges were washed out in Otoe county
and great damage was done to growing
crops. Across the river the whole bottom
is covered with water. This city is with
out gas tonight. A landslide north OF thi:
city on the Missouri Pacific prevents any
train service on that road tonight Fiv,
miles of track on the B. & NJ.
between here and Nemaha, when ou
this afternoon and no trains are likely Il
come in over that division for som,
time.
River Makes New Record.
HEBRON, Neb.. May 26.-(Special )-Th,
Little Blue river began raising rapidly las
niknt at Z y. anu TWO nOurS tnl
entire bottoms in the south and west par
of the city were under water. So quicl
was the raise that the residents had yer!
little time to move, In some instances the!
were rescued in boats.
The city waterworks is entirely sur
rounded by water and the large coal she,
was carried down the stream.
The water was one foot deep running
through the storage room OF Wetheral
Bros. MILL causing quite a loss as the,
had large supply OF flour on hand.
Twenty feet of grade at the Rock Islam
bridge was washed out
No reports have been received from dow
the river, but as the raise came in tn
night It will cause a heavy loss of live
stock on the ranches east of town.
II was three feet higher than ever befor
known by the old settlers but is gradual
subsidng.
FREMONT, Neb., May 26.-(Special Tele
gran.)-A tornado this morhing at Colon
reported. II is said that several person
were killed.
GIBBoN. Neb May 2s-CspeclaI
A terrific rain fell here just before day
break this morning accompanied by wint
hail and thunder. The hail was small an
no particular damage was done as far a