The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-16
A HEAVY STORM.
Buildings Blown Down, Roofs
Carried Away, and Crops
in General Damaged.
Hardest Rain in Years.

What was perhaps the most sew
ere storm, surely the hardest rain,
in years broke over Bloomsbury
and vicinity on Saturday. The
morning was hot and sultry, and
while a covering of clouds over
spread the sky, no one had any
idea that storm Of such awful vio-
lence and severity was gathering.
Suddenly the skies darkened, the
wind blew a terrific gale, and the
rain decended in torrents. Many
said the downpour resembled a
water-spout or cloud burst. Streets
were transformed into streams, and
pavements, particularly in the low
places were completely inundated.
1t was impossible to see for more
than half a block away, so fast did
the rain come down. Ali along
Main street, the water penetrated
the large windows and ran down in
streams before the goods could be
removed. The most unfortunate
in this respect were w. H. Moore,
Ben Gliding and E. M. Savidge.
The latters entire window display
of confectionery was ruined.
There was considerable damage
done to buildings and trees in and
about town. Several nice, large
shade trees on Market street, were
robbed of their symmetrical beauty,
by the wind. Huge limbs were
torn off and carried in some in
stances for fifty feet. A glance
down Market street after the storm
reminded one of few years ago.
AT the fair ground. lot of the
fence was blown down, about thirty
panels all told, and the Cattle sheds
were wrecked.
The Shaffer bridge, which spans
Fishingcreek, Just north of Blooms
burg, was victim of the wind S
fury, and a portion Of the roof was
carried away.
Traffic on the Columbia & Mon-
tour Electric Railway was blocked
for several hours. Just below the
Double bridge, large tree was
blown down over the track. Its
branches caught the feed wire and
pulled it down nearly to the ground,
but fortunately it did not brake.
On the Berwick division too, there
was a lot of trouble. The substa-
ton was out of service as result of
storm, and this curtaileA the power
to such an extent that considerable
difficulty was experienced in handl-
ing thetraffic which was unusually
large. The storm appears to have
travelled in path. Frosty Valley
suffered from its ravages. Stories
OF thrilling. escapes from death are
reported from that section. One that
verges on the miraculous is that ol
Frank Emmett. The storm was al
the widest of its behavior, when
he, riding a horse, was hurrying to
shelter. Suddenly the wind caught
him and he was lifted, horse ano
all from the road over into field,
The horse alighted squarely upon
its feet and Mr.. Emmett escaped
without a scratch.
1t was here that the storm was al
its worst. Emmett's barn was
ieveled with the ground, and the
roof was carried 200 feet away
The corn crib was completely des
troyed, not a vestige Of it was lef
standing. All about the place tree
were torn up by the roots, which
coupled with the wrecked building:
promised to MAKE a scene of ruiz
that it is almost impossible to des
cribe. Only a short distance from
Emmetts, at the Schoch farm o
which Samuel Lee is the tenant,
portion of the roof Of the barn wa
blown off. On the Zimmerman
farm, near by the barn was blown
down, and the house on Whine
Girtons farm was unroofed.
Mrs. Monroe Ikeler had left tn
house during the beginning Of tn
storm to find her little boy, and re
turning, became bewildered an
lost her way. She was rescued b.
her husband who was returning
with the horses from the field
Here the wagon shed was demolish
ed as was also its contents, includ
ing good farm wagon. Back {
the Ikeler home, on the Applema
farm, the destruction was awiu
tree after tree was bent and twiste
off, and what was before, littl
forest, is now completely wipe
out.
A peculiar fact in connection wit