The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-04-18
Disastrous Storms.

On Easter Sundaywithout moment
warning, Pittsburg, Pa, was struck by
thunder storm. Streets and cellars were
flooded, car tracks damaged and Irwin
T. Wilson was struck dead by lightning.
In Williamsburg the cloudburst poured
through the valley. People were driven
into the second stories of their homes.
The loss to property in the 37th ward was
great. Thousands of feet of lumber were
carried away from Pitt street yard, on
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
A signal tower of the Pennsylvania Rail
road was struck by lightning and the ad-
Joining passenger station was fired. The
only warning of the approaching storm Wis
ible to the thousands that filled the streets
of the city was the sudden rush OF clouds
darkening the sky that moment before
was radiant with the Easter sun. In an
instant torrents fell Alarm swept through
the city that the storm would be a repeti-
ton of the hurricane which descended up
on Pittsburg on Easter day year ago.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, April 12.-One
death, fatal injury and a score or more OF
injuries resulted from a tornado that swept
over Logan, De Witt and Plat counties
this afternoon. The home Of Clifford
Halsadarzer was demolished, and after the
storm Halsadarzer' infant son was found
dead 300 feet from the place where the
house stood. Mrs. Halsadarzer was hurled
across the village street and fatally injured.
Mrs. j. B. Martins home was destroyed
and several guests were painfully injured.
Deer Greek, in Logan county, where
the storm first struck, was swept dry OF
water. Reports from this district state
that three houses were destroyed and
number of people more or less injured
Supervisor Adam Schanaurer 5 residence
was destroyed. The family of several
children and number of visitors. . IN
all, sought safety in the cellar, and the
house was torn from over them. The
homes of Samuel " Baldwin and Gus
Knecht were destroyed.
IMPERIAL, Pa, April l. -kam be
gan falling in torrents this evening, aud
continued one hour, accompanied by sc
we're electrical storm. In short time the
Montour Valley, which point Is very mar
row, was a foaming mass of water, and
timber from nearby lumber yards filed and
obstructed it. The tracks of the Montour
Railroad, which runs parallel with the val
ley, were carried away in many places,
and the evening accommodation, leaving
Corraopolis at ) p. m, is supposed TO De
in the food Up to a late hour tonight
the train, which was heavily loaded with
passengers. canno, be located, and the
fear is for the worst Farmers IN the
valley viii suffer great loss, rs many fields
are almost ready for planting. The VII
hge Of Imperial was just recovering from
the IRE which q few days ago destroyed
the business portion Of the town,
MARION, I'm, April ia severe
storm did great damage in the gas belt yes
teriay. Several valuable stock barns were
struck BY lightning and burned. aud IN
South MaTioa nineteen people were
stunned By bolt Washouts occurred
on the Biz Four aud Clover Leaf Rad
ways.
INDIANAPOLIS, ISp., April IA
supposed cloudburst north Of Portland,
jay county, before midnight on Saturday
caused that city to be inundated an hour
later. and the estimated loss TO merchants
aud other residents i from siO0. 600 to
$3.50. 600. No rain fell in Portland after
dark, but heavy cloud hung over the
north, aud about midnight water began To
flow through the streets.
The citizens were awakened by the
ringing Of bells, and many Of them IF the
lower parts of the place found the water
already covering the first floors Of their
homes. The water continued to rise rap
idly. and in less than an hour It .s=s flow
ing ike a millr@ce through some IL the
streets
Nearly every basement IN the city wa
flooded and the damage to goods Of meF
chants is heavy. The Merchants Hotel
had covering Of water Il inches deep
over the lower floors, and in many houses
the water was from two to four feet deep.
Families occupying lower acors in the
central paIt Of the town left their homes