Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-06
STORM IS TERRIFIC
WIND AND RAIN YESTERDAY
PLAYS HAVOC FOR AN HOUR
STREETS LOOK LIKE RIVERS
Much Damage is Done in Nearly Ev.
cry Portion of the City-Water Got
Into Places That Seemed Impreg-
nabie-Heaviest Storm in Years.

The storm which occurred in Ottum-
wa yesterday was one of the f1erc-
est and most terrific that has ever
visited this city. The damage that was
done is incalculable and many people
are sufferers. The storm started about
III o'clock and played havoc for nearly
one hour, flooding the down town dis
trlct and making rivers out OF the
streets. Sidewalk approaches were
washed down the main streets and tor
rents of rain got into places that SEEM
ed impregnable. Broken branches of
trees lined the majority of the streets
in the residence district and water pre-
vailed everywhere. Probably never be-
fore has Ottumwa had such destruc-
tive and terrific storm. The cost that
it will take to repair the damage that
has been done can not adequately be
estimated, for nearly every property
owner is a slight loser Cornices were
blown off buildings and sky lights in
stores were broken in by the down
pour.
A Horse Killed.
About IL o'clock on South College
street, between Second and Main, a
horse attached to delivery wagon of
Hahn Bros, was killed by stepping on
a live electric wire. The team was be-
ing driven by Harry Heflin, when one
of the horses stepped on the wire and
was killed instantly The other horse
was not injured, although it was fright
ened.
Cornice Is Blown Off.
The cornfce work on the building &C.
cupied by John Fleming, 222 East Main
street, was completely blown off and
| ing is owned by j. J. Fox, of Colorado
Springs. There was no one injured by
the falling of the cornice and the loss
will be slight.
Brick Walk is Washed Out.
On Park avenue about four hundred
feet of newly laid brick sidewalk was
washed out by the heavy rain. This
will delay the completion of this work
| for some time and the residents of that
| street will be caused much inconven-
| fence. The contractors will have COM
| paratively a whole new job to CON-
plete.
Lightning Strikes House.
The lightning played peculiar feat
this morning when it struck house
owned by MajoR5A. H. Hamilton on
North Court street. The house is a
new one in theO course of compile
ton. About 11:20 o'clock this morning
lightning struckethe top of the roof,
making a hole two feet in diameter in
it and frightening the workmen There
is nothing in the house but rafters and
the lightning followed these circuitous.
ly, until it ended at the bottom of the
| front dooor, tearing off small strip OF
bordering. The damage at this place
was slight.
Young Man is Injured.
Frank Mercer, who resides on North
Davis street and who is employed in
the Burnaugh grocery store, 634
| Church street, was endeavoring to take
the groceries out of show window,
when the terrific winds broke the win.
| dow and the pieces of glass cut his left
wrist and right shoulder quite badly
DR.. M. w. Pascoe was called and it was
necessary to take one stitch on the
wrist in order to close the wound Mr.
Mercer is reported as resting easy this
afternoon and his injuries will keeI
him from his work only few days.
Many trees all over the city are
blown down or broken in some way.
The City park is covered with broken
branches and all along West Fourth
street and nearly every street that is
lined with trees, there is some damage
done. The large tree in front of the
First Presbyterian church had one of
it's largest branches broken off and
this tree will be severely marred by
the storm. Bricks, rocks and loose
stuffs were washed down off the hills
to the lower levels.
The terrific wind and rain broke the
skylight in the Martin furniture store
and necessitated. the removal, of all
the furniture under the skylight
There was but little damage done here
and it was quickly repaired. In the
4 ST. Louis store, the skylight in the
rear of the building was broken and
! the aisle under the light was a pool OF
water for some time this morning
The goods were removed out of the
way of the water and slight damage
was done.
Many telephones are out Of order
caused by the storm and the forces OF
both companies are busily repairing
the damage that has been done. The
toll systems of both companies have
suffered considerably and much trou
BILE has been given the operators.
The storm blew a corner of the roo
and a large furnace chimney Off thu
u ~ ~