The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-26
STORM CREATED HAVOC
N SUBURBS OF CHICAGO
Further Details of the Damage to
Person and Property Thurs
day Night.
EAST ST. LOUIS AFFECTED

CHICAGO, March 25.-Reports to-day
from the storm-swept area in and about
Chicago indicate that the havoc wrought
is even greater than at first believed. The
property loss from the wind. which was
of tornado character in several districts,
was augmented later by heightened floods,
which had but partially receded from prev
iOus heavy rain falls. In Dauphin Park
and vicinity the water has risen until the
first floors OF many homes are submerged
and families are fleeing in panic by boats.
Business IN the town is suspended and
schools are closed, the saving Of life and
relief of suffering being given the first at
tention. The freight-car shops of the
Nickel-plate road was the center OF mini
ature tornado. The large building used as
a repair shop was partly wrecked. the roof
being hurled against an adjoining build
ing. About the shops a large number
OF freight cars Many of these were thrown
from the tracks while others were unroofed.
At Washington Heights several persons
We're injured and houses were blown down
unroOfed- In Morgan Point and Fern
wood five houses were unrOOfed, another
blown from its foundations and miles of
telephone and telegraph poles were blown
down. Twisted telegraph wires blocked the
Rock Island and Panhandle Railroad
tracks Sidewalks were wrenched from
their places and thousands of yards of
fences scattered through the streets.
Among the injured Washington Heights
were Mrs. S. A. Scharpier. who badly
cut by flying glass. The families of Peter
Mellen and Mrs. r. Ray had narrow es-
capes. Mrs MeIIen and her daughters were
in bed when the storm struck. In an in
stant the roof was carried away and the
terrified women We're drenched by the rain
The Ray cottage was 200 feet away. Mrs
Ray and several friends were in the parlor
when the roof of the Mellen house crashed
upon their dwelling, wrecking the upper
story. y number of other houses and stores
We're badly damaged.
Almost every house in Burnsides was
damaged in the storm. Chimneys were
blown down, roofs torn away and there was
scarcely an unbroken window left in the
suburb
In South Chicago the storm continued
through the night sweeping down the tele-
phone poles and flooding part of the town.
Fred Brunk, OF South Chicago, and his wife
Reoecca We're severely injured when the
roof of their dwelling was blown Off Both
were struck by bricks.
At Seventy-ffth street the wind blew the
roof from building occupied by Brown &
Co., coal dealers, and hurled it against a
car on the Calumet electric line filled with
passengers. The car was knocked from the
track. None bf the passengers was injured
seriously.
The business part of East Chicago also
was flooded and much damage from wind
and water is reported in the residence por-
ton or the town.
The path of the storm described curve,
bending inland from the shore, leaving the
heart OF the city uninjured. compared with
the damage which was wrought in the out
skirts. From the district in which Evans
ton is located, the storm swept down TO
Rogers Park. thence inshore among the
Desplaines river suburbs. south through
ThOrntcl: and Chicago Heights, bending
back toward the lake with the Calumet val
ley and brushing every village from Blue
Island to South Chicago with destructive
force. Then ii blew through Hammond to
Indiana Harbor, where the loss of life and
property was greater than at any other
point.
At Thornton the depot of the Chicago &
Eastern Illinois Railroad was unroofed. The
German Lutheran Church was lifted into
the air and crashed into adjoining lot
and twisted entirely out of shape.