Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-10-07
DAMAGE IN STORM
Rain, Wind and Lightning Play
Havoc in Rock Island and
Vicinity.
LIGHTNING STRIKES ONE HOUSE
Washouts on Railroads Seriously
Interfere With Traf-
fic. -Hf

Rain, driven by high wind and in
terspersed with terrific flashes of
lightning and roars of thunder, fell in
torrents over the city and in the sur
rounding territory yesterday after
noon and evening, working considera-
BILE damage. the railroads entering the
city suffering most.
The residence of ii. II. Robb, in
South Rock Island, was struck by
lightning, the bolt wrecking a Chin
ney on the kitchen and descending to
the interior of the house, ripping off
a strip of plaster and breaking a sec
ond story window. Fortunately, no
one was injured.
Frame buildings trembled before
the wind. \ brick chimney was blown
from the home of a Mrs. Sweeney, in
South Park. sheds were leveled in diff
fercnt sections of town, and every
where the streets were lined this
morning with tree branches and other
foliage.
lightning also struck the home OF
Charles Durmann, in South Rock Isl
and. Only slight damage was done.
Cellars Flooded.
The water, as usual, descended the
streets leading from the bluff region
in roaring streams. the accompanying
refuse soon clOgging the catch basins,
with the result that in several places
the water overfowed the curbing and
cellars were filed.
The cars of the Tri-City Railway
company were kept on the move dur
ing the storm. but not without great
difficulty, the water in some of the
streets having reached beyond the
wheels of the motors. \ conductor
on an Elm street car claims that his
car fioated between Seventh and Sec
ond avenues on Nineteenth street
about 7:3O.
Damage on Railroads.
All railroads entering the city were
inconvenienced more or less from
washouts. The Burlington and Rock
Island Jared the worst. nearly 100 feet
of track of the former floating away
before the flood in the vicinity of
Orion. \ much larger strip of the
roadbed was weakened. Passenger
trains were sent today via Denrock.
NJ NhOl L w III Dt iid'S " bIiiE III VI
send out freights until the track is
replaced at Orion.
The Rock Island had washouts on
the Peoria and Illinois divisions and
on the Gable branch. Near Milan
quite strip of track was displaced.
the passenger due here at 1852 from
Peoria being caught on the other side
of the break and not arriving until l
o'clock this morning, wrecking crew
working all night repairing the dam
age. \ piece of track was washed
out just beyond. Moline, but it was
soon put back in place. At Taylor
Ridge there was washOut also, but
there was no delay in traffic.
Excitement at Milan.
Mill creek got out of its banks and
the water rushed in the village of Mi
Ian from the east about , o'clock this
morning. Citizens fearing the worst
might happen reused the people by
sounding the village fire bell. The
whole population was awakened, some
taking to the roofs of the houses and
others climbing trees. Many did not
have on enough clothing to wad a
shot gun with. The streams flooding
the streets continued on the rise UNI
til ) o'clock. when the water began to
recede. The damage was confined to
the filing of cellars and the dampen-
ing of carpets in a few Of the homes.
1t was an exciting time for the peo-
pie of the village.