The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-12-26
A Gale Does Considerable Dam
age i'm Paducah.
Several Boats Blown Loose and the
Kentucky Theatre Partially
Unroofed.


CofcIhl udys VI lullu W6htntr were
followed last evening by sudden and
unexpected gale which did consider
able damage in this section, blowing
loose several boats in the harbor, and
unroofing part of the Kentucky
theatre.
The wind and sudden drop in tenn
perature were without warning, Is
there were no government reports sent
out yesterday. The day was quite
mild and pleasant until late in the
evening, when suddenly, before 6
O'Clock, a strong wind sprang up, ac-
companied by rain, and followed soon
by snow.
This lasted short time, and about
z p. m the mercury began to fall,
and before morning had descended to
eight degrees above zero, as cold as
the coolest day this season.
Government weather Observer
Borneman says that the same thing
occurred last year, when the temper
allure suddenly fell to degrees on
Christmas, just as last night.
Very little damage, comparatively,
was done by the wind. The tin roof
on the Kentucky theatre on North
Fifth street was caught and torn off
for quite a distance tearing away
frame work and some of the fire wall
brick. Manager J. e. English was
notified ami went down at once, a
force of men removing all the scenery
in order to prevent damage. The in.
jury to the theatre will be in the
neiR hborhood of 81, 900, but will not
interfere with business in any way, as
the theatre is open today and two
performances will be given. II is be.
lieved the damage will be repaired by
tomorrow night Tomorrow workmen
will be engaged ali day in the work of
replacing the roof.
Damages amounting to thousands of
dollars was done river property. The
wind sprang up about 5 O'Clock from
the northwest ana soon increased to a
velocity Of 90 miles an hour.
AS aresult of the storm one packet,
the Tennessee, was badly damaged,
the big tow boat Sprague, John Sum
mers and Henrietta damaged and as
many as nine bsrges broken loose from
their moorings and carried up the
river and into the boats tied ut Owens
Island.
The Tennessee, John S. Summers
ana Henrietta were tied to the Ken
'ucky bank at the Paducah Mill and
Elevator company, at the foot of Wash
intgon street. and when the wind
caught them, it snapped the lines in
two as II they we're mers threads.
The boats swung around together with
two loose barges ana the Henrietta
suddenly left the other two ami began
moving up the river. The I. II.
Davis, n boat waiting to go on the
ways, W ar struck but fortunately only
slightly damaged. The Henrietta
continued her course mp the river, and
outing across, grszed the Sprague's
tow of empties, finally landing against
the bank of the Island with few
splintered timbers but comparatively
little damaged.
The Summers had MP steam and by
the efforts Of those ON board was got
ten under control aud escaped dam
age.
The Tennessee, however, had only n
Waterman aud one or two deck hands
OH board. She was blown across the
channel of the Tennessee and smashed
into the wheel OF the monster tow
boat Sprague. The wind held her
three until lines could be- run out ana
the boat fastened Tho sprague's
wheel was damaged TO the extent Of
about $50 bat the Tennessee is dam
aged to the extent of 1000 10 is esti-
mated. Her boiler deoE was wrecked
and she had to lay up.
A small tow boat, tho Monterey,
was moored above the Sprngue and
had the Tennessee not been fortunate
ly blown against the sprsgue, nigh.
have ogt TIC to- tf sr. -trrro Lo.